Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will debut in the centres for Queensland next Wednesday as Paul Green rolls the dice in hope of avoiding a State of Origin clean sweep.
The North Queensland flyer has been selected for Game 3 on July 14, replacing Kurt Capewell in the centres where Tom Trbojevic has run amok for the Blues amid a cumulative 76-6 series scoreline.
Capewell will instead play in his preferred backrow position, while Kalyn Ponga returns at fullback – pushing Valentine Holmes to the wing with Kyle Feldt dropped – and Ben Hunt replaces the axed Andrew McCullough at hooker.
Gold Coast’s edge weapon David Fifita has been named on the bench in an indication he will contest his charge at the judiciary after being sin-binned for dangerous contact on Saturday.
Named 18th man, Francis Molo will likely return to the bench if Fifita’s challenge is unsuccessful.
A fit-again AJ Brimson returns to the No.14 position he filled in Game 1, while Brisbane forward Thomas Flegler and Newcastle utility Kurt Mann could both make shock debuts after being named in the extended squad.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Tabuai-Fidow, 19, has been deployed at fullback and on the wing since debuting for the Cowboys last season.
But he’s made a home at centre this season and, despite battling a lingering ankle issue, is considered one of the fastest players in the NRL.
He’ll need smarts to match that speed though, tasked with smothering the game’s form player Trbojevic.
Trbojevic torched Queensland with a game-one hat-trick and added another try as they clinched the series at Suncorp Stadium, while he has scored 14 tries in just nine games for Manly this season.
The Maroons will head to next Wednesday’s dead-rubber looking to avoid their first 3-0 series whitewash in over two decades, when the Blues won in 2000 by a record 62-point aggregate margin.
Green was unavailable to comment on his selections on Monday, unwilling to speak via Zoom and unable to conduct an in-person press conference under current COVID-19 restrictions.
Open to a return to the job next year after piloting Queensland to a famous underdog win last season, Wayne Bennett earlier said blooding youth was the best policy with the series decided.
“You have to take the opportunity to put these kids under a bit more pressure and find out whether they’re really good,” he said.
“Because when the series starts next year they have a game under them.”
Bennett himself only faced a 0-2 deficit twice in his eight series in charge of the Maroons.
But he made good use of it.
“I remember bringing Cameron Smith in for his first Origin the game after we lost the series (in 2003),” Bennett said of Queensland’s most-capped Origin player.
“We have done that for a long time for Queensland. And they have gone on to be great players for us.”
Queensland team for Game 3: Kalyn Ponga, Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Christian Welch, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Kurt Capewell, Felise Kaufusi, Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson. Bench: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika, David Fifita, Frank Molo (18th man). Extended squad members: Kurt Mann, Thomas Flegler.
Sing The Blues !
Guest
Holmes is still an alright player that get do some good things in a game. Still, he’s nothing like the player who left to play NFL. I think he’s now overrated.
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Would of been great to see him in the centre for a dead rubber.
GoMaroons
Guest
Didn't Gagai play better in origin when he was on a wing ? The team is better but just not sure the bench is best spot for brimson. How would he go in centres ?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
They aren't as good, but he's talking about the second and third team. These centres could run in the second and third team and be competitive and able to beat QLD, with the rest. And for halves, Reynolds, Pearce, Hughes could adequately cover Cleary
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Do you Honestly think those guys would have the same impact as Turbo and Mitchell had this year in the series. Turbo was superman like in game 1 and Mitchell was sensational in game 2. That’ll do me if you think those guys would have the same impact in origin as Turbo or Mitchell or close to.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Hmmm NSW gun centres, may not be Turbo level but wouldn't be out of place in Origin;- Staggs, Lomax, Best, Ramian, Chrichton, Graham, that's just off the top of my head, sure to be a couple more.
Rob
Guest
Fafita?
Rob
Guest
The flip side to that assessment is the Cowboys have a new halves pairing and the return of Ponga playing for Knights. Which is possibly the catalyst for a 38-0 win. NSW have a new halves pairing and Ponga is playing for Queensland.
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
In origin you need wingers to make last second reads and save tries. Coates hasn’t stopped one the first 2 games. I know he is quick but it hasn’t come to any use this series.
Short Memory
Guest
Yep. Right. We could field three teams with better players than Slater, Cronk, Thurston, Smith and Inglis. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Who’s on the level of the backline in the first games from your second and third side? No 7 comes close to Cleary and and no centre is in the same hemisphere as Latrell and Turbo.
Rob
Guest
That’s exactly why Hammer tackles at 90% efficiency. Turbo got on the outside and blew past Capewell. Turbo also jammed in on Fafita leaving Capewell room but Capewell could neither threaten with pace or hands to get any advantage. Hammer comes with the threat of taking advantage of space and going the length. Speed is a threat that is always in a defenders mind. It can make them make errors and changes their defensive decisions.
GoMaroons
Guest
Who are our other centre options ?
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
I'm going to pump up the numbers, this would be the least commented origin selection piece I have seen. Good to see Hamiso getting a run and they have kept a bit of faith in Coates, hopefully they use this opportunity and don't end up on the scrap heap. Been a Blues fan for a long time and have seen it happen time and time again :thumbup:
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
Yep, as far as I'm concerned, NSW have always been able to field 3 teams that could beat Qld, and Qld have always been a couple of key injuries away from a flogging. But take some of that club chemistry out of the blues and bring in a gamechanger at fullback for the maroons and it suddenly looks winnable again. Hunt will be a quiet achiever at hooker too IMO. It's a good thing he doesn't have any drinking buddies at the dragons!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Horsburgh????
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Big ask against the most fearsome attacking player in the world..
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Yes, but Hammer has the speed to come back and have a second go.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You are sooo correct, my bad. I missed Collins and he'd be in the starting pack. So it's about 3 faces off the best they can put on, should make a game of it - and - given NSW are missing some key personnel, QLD should seriously be thinking about winning.
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
I like Hammer and want him to do well, but it's a bit weird seeing him picked ahead of two backs from a team that just smoked his team 38-0, not to mention Opacic who's been doing a decent job for one of the form clubs. It really looks like Green picking his old club favourites again.