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.
» State of Origin teams
» 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.
Muzz
Guest
Average looking team.
RoryStorm
Guest
The prediction from the press in Melbourne is they will be lucky to sell anymore than 50,000 tickets & that includes the fans coming from Queensland & NSW. Quite frankly that would be a travesty for Rugby League. Maybe it's the Melbourne media trying to spook the local sports fans into not going. Maybe most Victorians have had their fill of all things related to both Rugby codes? I hope not for the sake of the game.
Barry
Guest
Mate against mate state against state - first game of this years SOO and they send it to Melbourne. An arena that holds 100,000 and 20,000 tickets sold so far, why does the NRL hate the league followers so much? MEMO to Todd Greenburg :- NSW VERSUS QLD.
McTavish
Roar Rookie
A good reflection of the succession planning Qld has been putting in over the last few years. Most of these guys already blooded and/or around the team for a number of years. Will be interesting to see how this goes against NSW apparent preponderance of (in-form) noobies.
RoryStorm.
Guest
Just my opinion but I think this time around Cherry Evans can feel a little bit hard done by as his form has been good without being outstanding, but the fact that he is a recognised goal kicker almost makes him a necessity to the team. Hunt to the bench & Morgan dropped. I haven't seen anything from Morgan so far this year to warrant selection. If Hunt doesn't overcome his injury, then I would pick Morgan on the bench and hope he rises to the occasion.
Matt H
Roar Guru
It will be V-Holmes. One of the reasons he got picked over Boyd and Oates.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Ofeheng...you know who I mean, is the 18th man.
thomas c
Guest
I'd be curious about who they have as backup given a couple guys nursing injuries. I mean Hunt had a cork, McGuire is coming back from injury, and something seemed up with Morgan in his last game. And you still get chances of players breaking down while training or getting a concussion during warm up (I guess someone has to do tackling practice with Nappa).
John
Guest
Thought Hunt would have been excluded based on him not finishing his last two games.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I'm surprised they couldn't find a spot for Oates. Considering the size of their forwards they really needed a big body like Oates to make them some yardage. Having Val Holmes and Gagai is pretty good though.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I would guess Munster, but he is an average kicker
bazza
Guest
who is there kicker ?