Jarome Luai has beaten Jack Wighton for the five-eighth spot as the NSW Blues team for State of Origin 1 was revealed
Coach Brad Fittler has given the in-form number six, who is one of six Panthers in the line-up, the nod over the Raider, and will partner teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for the opener.
They’ll be joined by another Origin debutant in Brian To’o on the wing, with Isaah Yeo named at lock. Liam Martin will also make his representative debut off the bench, with Api Koroisau named as 18th man.
Yeo and Cameron Murray will be breathing sighs of relief that they escaped sanction for their weekend indiscretions, having both been named in the forwards.
Tyson Frizell is a major absentee, having suffered a serious ankle injury just hours before the team was named. He is expected to miss at least the next 3-6 weeks.
James Tedesco will captain the team, having stepped into the role last year in the absence of Boyd Cordner.
1. James Tedesco (c)
2. Brian To’o
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Daniel Saifiti
9. Damien Cook
10. Jake Trbojevic
11. Cameron Murray
12. Tariq Sims
13. Isaah Yeo
Bench
14. Jack Wighton
15. Junior Paulo
16. Payne Haas
17. Liam Martin
Reserves: 18. Api Koroisau, 19. Campbell Graham