There are three new faces in the Queensland Maroons team for Game 1 of the 2018 State of Origin series.
Jai Arrow and Andrew McCullough of the Brisbane Broncos and Felise Kaufusi of the Melbourne Storm have all been named to appear for the Maroons for the first time at the MCG next week.
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» Expert reaction to Queensland Maroons Game 1 side
McCullough will take the place of Maroons legend Cameron Smith in the No.9 guernsey, but Smith’s surprise retirement from representative duties also let the post of captain open.
Smith played in 42 Origin matches (and 56 Test for Australia also at representative level), skippering the Queensland side through a dominant era of success.
Greg Inglis has been named the next captain of Queensland, and will lead the team into battle for the first time in Game 1.
Billy Slater was considered the other possible choice to lead the team, but Inglis has won out after receiving strong public support from past and present teammates in the media.
Inglis has played 30 Origin matches for the Maroons, and scored a record 18 tries.
Like McCullough, Kaufusi will start on the field, name at No.12, while Arrow has been named on the bench for his first Origin appearance.
With Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston also retiring from rep footy, coach Kevin Walters has had to pick a new halves combination, with Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster getting the nod at halfback and five-eighth respectively.
However, that leaves Queensland without a recognised goalkicking option. Valentine Holmes has done the job at club level in the past, and Ben Hunt is another possibility.
Arguably the biggest surprise of the Maroons’ selection is the snubbing of Matt Scott, who missed the 2017 series with an ACL injury. Darius Boyd is another big-name omission, the Broncos veteran making way for Inglis to return to the side.
The first game of the series will kick off at approximately 8pm AEST on the night of Wednesday, June 6 at the MCG. New South Wales’ side will be announced at 6:40pm (AEST) tonight.
1. Billy Slater, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Greg Inglis (C), 4. Will Chambers, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Dylan Napa, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Jarrod Wallace, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Josh McGuire.
Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Coen Hess, 17. Jai Arrow.
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