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REVEALED: NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons teams for State of Origin 1

29th October, 2020
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29th October, 2020
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Eleven debutants will take to the field in Game 1 of the 2020 State of Origin series, with a massive eight uncapped players named for Queensland.

The Blues and Maroons were due to unveil their line-ups on Thursday evening, only for them to appear on the fixture page on NRL.com, as well as the NSWRL and QRL sites in the afternoon.

AJ Brimson has been named at fullback for the Maroons in place of the injured Kalyn Ponga, forming a completely uncapped back three alongside Xavier Coates and Phillip Sami. Brenko Lee will also earn his first Queensland jersey in the centres, leaving just Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster and captain Daly Cherry-Evans as the only backline players with prior Origin experience.

Christian Welch and Josh Papalii form a strong front row with Jake Friend for the Maroons, with Felise Kaufusi and Coen Hess in the back row and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui at lock.

Ben Hunt, Lindsay Collins, Jai Arrow and Jaydn Su’A make up the Queensland bench.

For the Blues, James Tedesco still faces a fitness test to play in Game 1, but with Ryan Papenhuyzen out with a calf injury the star Rooster has been named at fullback.

Sydney teammate Daniel Tupou makes his Origin comeback on the wing opposite Josh Addo-Carr, and Clint Gutherson will make his NSW debut in the centres alongside newly-crowned Dally M Medallist Jack Wighton.

While Cody Walker has missed out on a starting spot, with Luke Keary starting at five-eighth next to halfback Nathan Cleary, the Rabbitohs playmaker has won a place on the bench in the number 14 jersey.

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Aside from debutant Junior Paulo, who will start in the front row, New South Wales’ forward pack is full of Origin experience. Daniel Saifiti lines up alongside Paulo with hooker Damien Cook completing the front row, while captain Boyd Cordner is partnered by Tyson Frizell in the second row.

Jake Trbojevic will lock the scrum while Payne Haas, Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton are set to come off the bench.

State of Origin 2020 Game 1 teams

NSW Blues

1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Clint Gutherson
4. Jack Wighton
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Luke Keary
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Damien Cook
10. Junior Paulo
11. Boyd Cordner (c)
12. Tyson Frizell
13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench
14. Cody Walker
15. Payne Haas
16. Cameron Murray
17. Angus Crichton

Reserves: 18. Cameron McInnes, 19. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 20. Nathan Brown, 21. Zac Lomax

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Queensland Maroons

1. AJ Brimson
2. Xavier Coates
3. Brenko Lee
4. Dane Gagai
5. Phillip Sami
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Christian Welch
9. Jake Friend
10. Josh Papalii
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Coen Hess
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Bench
14. Ben Hunt
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Jai Arrow
17. Jaydn Su’A

Reserves: 18. Kurt Capewell, 19. Moeaki Fotuaika, 20. Dunamis Lui, 21. Hymel Hunt

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