Queensland and NSW coaches Billy Slater and Brad Fittler have named their teams for Game 3 of the 2023 State of Origin series.

Game 3 teams

Unlike in the previous two Origin clashes in 2023, there were no late changes to the starting line-up, with both teams going in with their 13s as originally named.

Game 3 news

NSW rung the changes for Game 3, with two debutants and six in total returning.

Bradman Best and Keaon Koloamatangi made their bow at Origin level, with both named in the run-on team in the centre and second row positions respectively, while Cody Walker returned at five eighth after a long absence dating back to 2020.

Clint Gutherson, who also last played in 2020, and Jacob Saifiti, who played last year, returned as bench options and Kangaroos Test pair Jake Trbojevic and Reagan Campbell-Gillard were called up having been unavailable due to injury.

Spencer Leniu and Scott Drinkwater were the reserves.

That meant Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Tyson Frizell, Stefano Utoiakamanu and Hudson Young were ditched from Game 2, with Tom Trbojevic and Payne Haas ruled out through injury. Matt Burton, who was 18th man in Brisbane, was also overlooked.

Queensland, on the other hand, returned to their pick-and-stick model, with just two chances: Corey Horsburgh coming onto the bench for a debut in place of Tom Flegler, and AJ Brimson jumping from 18th man to fullback to cover for the suspended Reece Walsh.

Game 2 teams

This is how the teams lined up for Game 2 of the series at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Game 2 news

Trailing 1-0 after a loss in Game 1 at the Adelaide Oval, NSW’s plans for Game 2 were rocked by a hamstring injury to star halfback Nathan Cleary that has ruled him out of not just the must-win match, but Game 3 as well. Mitchell Moses was named in the No.7 jersey as his replacement.

South Sydney stars Latrell Mitchell (calf) and Cameron Murray (groin) were also under fitness clouds but were selected for Game II. However, Mitchell later withdrew himself for the second consecutive match.

Api Koroisau also sustained a broken jaw playing for the Tigers against the Titans, that will rule him out of both the final two matches of the series.

Back-rower Liam Martin was picked despite being KOEd in Penrith’s NRL rout of the Sydney Roosters. Martin demanded a promotion to the Blues’ starting side with a powerhouse performance before rushing out of the line and reeling out of an attempted tackle on Jarad Waerea-Hargreaves with a bloodied head.

Cowboy Reece Robson received a shock call up.

Meanwhile, the Queenslanders had to find two new forwards to replace injured duo Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow with Fa’asuamaleaui having no case to answer for the collision with Koroisau that broke the Blues star’s jaw.

Titan Moeaki Fotuaika was named along with Corey Horsburgh in the Maroons’ 17-man squad as newcomers to the line-up. Selwyn Cobbo was ruled out with a hip issue sustained during Game 1, with Xavier Coates making his Origin return as the Broncos star’s replacement.

Game 1 teams

This is how the teams lined up for Game 1 of the series at Adelaide Oval.

Game 1 news

Queensland made some last-minute changes with their final starting line-up, elevating Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Reuben Cotter from the bench to start at prop, with Lindsay Collins and Tom Flegler relegated to the bench.

The Blues were thrown into disarray just two days out from Game 1, with Latrell Mitchell ruled out with a calf injury.

Mitchell’s withdrawal was the second forced change to their Origin 1 team, with 18th man Campbell Graham ruled out after being named as 18th man due to a sternum injury.

The biggest shock by far of Fittler’s team was the inclusion of Tevita Pangai jnr at the expense of the injured Jake Trbojevic. The Bulldogs lock came from nowhere to be named in the 15 jersey, while Josh Addo-Carr has been named for his Origin return after being surprisingly overlooked in last year’s series.

Fittler recalled Tom Trbojevic after his stunning return to form in recent weeks, as NSW try to wrest the Origin shield back from Queensland’s grasp after the Maroons’ 2-1 series win in 2022.

The Blues checked in on St George Illawarra’s Jack de Belin‘s fitness, but the controversial forward missed the cut. Fittler described the squad as “the most experienced team we’ve fielded in a long time”.

Slater, meanwhile, dropped experienced duo Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai, with Reece Walsh named at fullback and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the centres.

Kurt Capewell has been left out due to an ongoing shoulder injury, with Tom Gilbert his replacement.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has also been included after escaping suspension for a pair of incidents during the Titans’ loss to the Bulldogs. Jai Arrow was reportedly on standby should he have been rubbed out.

The ban on Felise Kaufusi for a high hit to the head of Christian Welch saw Thomas Flegler named in his stead.

2022 State of Origin teams

Queensland won the 2022 State of Origin series 2-1 after defeating NSW in the decider 22-12.

Here is how the teams lined up.

Game 3 Teams

Game 3 news

In shocking news, Jordan McLean’s Origin debut dream was shattered after he injured his hamstring at NSW training.

“I’m absolutely gutted. The hardest part will be telling my family,” McLean said.

Jacob Saifiti was rushed back from Newcastle to make his Blues debut in McLean’s place.

NSW had a scare with reserve Nicho Hynes testing positive to COVID just two days after training with the Blues.

Game 2 teams

Here is how the teams lined up for Game 2 in Perth.

Game 2 news

In a big blow for the Blues, Jack Wighton has been ruled out of Game 2 after contracting Covid and has gone into isolation.

Josh Addo-Carr staked his claim for re-selection into the Blues after scoring a hat-trick for the Bulldogs against Parramatta. Addo-Carr was one of the big names to be overlooked for Game 1.

Here was The Roar’s analysis on the final combinations the two teams went with.

Game 1

NSW and Queensland both finalised their teams one hour before kick-off for Game 1 which kicked off at 8.14pm AEST at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

The Blues made a couple of late changes to their starting lineup with Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Liam Martin to both start with Cameron Murray and Junior Paulo coming off the bench.

Jai Arrow was given the nod as Maroons’ 18th man with Tom Dearden relegated to the reserves.

The Blues and Maroons both initially named 22-man squads with the Blues finalising their match-day 19 on Origin eve cutting out Jacob Saifiti, Joseph Suaalii and Api Koroisau. Tyson Frizell was omitted an hour before kick-off.

Queensland omitted Tom Dearden as the last man from their squad with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi and Tom Flegler left out.

When the teams were trimmed back to 18-man line-ups at 7.10pm, Nicho Hynes was named as the Blues’ standby reserve with Jai Arrow filling the role for the Queenslanders.

To see the strengths and weaknesses of who is lining up for each state, here is all you need to know about the two 22-man squads.

Here is how the teams lined up for the opening game:

Game 1 news

There was speculation floating around that Brad Fittler would make a late change by bringing Stephen Crichton into the starting line-up and relegating Jack Wighton to the bench.

Brad Fittler on Tuesday was coy about the prospect of a late switch but in the end he stuck with the selected squad.

“I’ll leave that up to you guys to decide,” Fittler told reporters. “I can see the fact with Penrith players all around, those combinations are always good. I’ll leave that up to you.”

Maroons hooker Harry Grant is over his bout of the flu and has trained well for Queensland, who are also as per program.

Billy Slater had said that he plans to keep Grant on the interchange with Ben Hunt to remain as starting hooker.

There were a fair few surprises when the Blues team was initially announced with four debutants named in the 18-man game-day line-up and Josh Addo-Carr dropped from the side.

There were massive blows before the series with Tom Trbojevic dislocatating his shoulder in Manly’s loss against the Parramatta Eels.  Ryan Papenhuyzen was also due to miss 4-6 weeks after the after suffering knee and hamstring injuries against St George Illawarra.

The in-form fullback, who was possibly closing in on his first NSW jersey as a bench utility for the Origin series opener on June 8, will miss at least a month.

For Queensland, Selwyn Cobbo will make his debut for the Maroons while Jeremiah Nanai has also been named in the squad and is expected to make his debut off the bench.

2021 State of Origin teams

This is how the teams lined up for the 2021 series between NSW and Queensland.

The Blues won Game 2 26-0, therefore winning the series after their 50-6 triumph in Game 1.

The Maroons regained some pride by winning Game 3 20-18.

Game 3

Game 3 news

There’s been late drama in the Maroons camp after Jai Arrow was suspended for two matches and fined $35,000 for breaching COVID biosecurity bubble. The NRL integrity unit issued the breach notice following allegations Arrow brought a woman outside the bubble into his hotel room.

Barely 24 hours after NSW secured the 2021 Origin series, news broke that star halfback Nathan Cleary’s season is in jeopardy with a badly injured shoulder.

Cleary reportedly suffered the injury early in the Blues’ 26-0 win at Suncorp Stadium, but battled through the match. He’s already been ruled out of Origin 3, while the Penrith Panthers are considering surgery which would likely end his NRL season.

Mitchell Moses has been named by Fittler to make his debut in the no.7 jersey. He’ll be joined by Jack Wighton in the halves.

Penrith hooker Api Koroisau has also been named on the bench to make his debut.

Fittler was forced to make further changes with an injury to Daniel Saifiti. Dale Finucane has come into the team as a replacement with the Blues adding two players as cover including Clint Gutherson and Stefano Utoikamanu.

As for the Maroons, hooker Harry Grant will once again miss the match with a hamstring injury. In better news, fullback Kalyn Ponga will play and Queensland will unleash teenager Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to see what he can achieve in the dead rubber.

However, they’ve been hampered by David Fifita’s one-match suspension for a late tackle. He’s out of the side, meaning 18th man Francis Molo gets another opportunity.

Game 2

Queensland Maroons
Queensland’s ordeal in naming a team for Game 2 was one of the most unbelievable in State of Origin history.

The Maroons were forced into three late backline changes after Ronaldo Mulitalo was ruled ineligible to play Origin. That meant Xavier Coates, who’d been dumped from the squad altogether after a horror performance in Game 1, was parachuted into the starting line-up after all.

It capped off a truly wild week of selection news for the underdogs. First, they made headlines after handing Warriors rookie Reece Walsh a debut at fullback despite the 18-year-old having played just seven NRL games to date.

His inclusion, which had been slammed as ‘desperate’ by Origin legends, was necessitated by Kalyn Ponga’s continued absence with a groin injury as well as AJ Brimson’s knee injury.

But Walsh succumbed to a leg injury of his own during training. That meant Valentine Holmes, who played fullback in Game 1, was moved off the wing and back into the fullback spot, bringing Ronaldo Mulitalo off the reserves list and onto a wing.

As if it couldn’t get any weirder, New South Wales then claimed Mulitalo was ineligible to represent the Maroons because he had lived in New Zealand until he was 14. Players must have lived in their state before they were 13 to represent them at Origin level.

Sensationally, the NRL has stepped in and barred the Cronulla player from making his debut – allowing Coates to re-join the squad.

Tha wasn’t all for the Maroons; forward Jai Arrow was sent to hospital to deal with an oral infection. He did, however, line up.

At hooker, Harry Grant also joined the casualty ward with a hamstring problem, while second choice Reed Mahoney was still nursing a shoulder complaint.

Andrew McCullough started at hooker, with Ben Hunt replacing Brimson as the bench utility. David Fifita was also moved to the bench. Joe Ofahenguae and Jaydn Su’A both dropped out of the side.

One welcome sight for Queensland fans was the return of Josh Papalii. The prop missed Game 1 through suspension but came straight back into the run-on front row for Game 2 alongside Christian Welch, with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui moving to lock and Jai Arrow to the second row next to Felise Kaufusi.

Kurt Capewell and Dane Gagai partnered up in the centres, Kyle Feldt started opposite Coates on the wing, and Cameron Munster once again joined captain Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.

NSW Blues
Unsurprisingly for a side coming off a 50-6 win, the Blues made few changes to their side for Game 2.

The only real mystery was how Jake Trbojevic would be replaced. Having started at prop in the series opener, the star forward was ruled out of Game 2 with a hip injury. In a small surprise, it was Junior Paulo coming off the bench to win the starting job over Game 2 inclusions Angus Crichton and Dale Finucane, both of whom have series-winning experience at Origin level.

Finucane had to settle for a spot in the reserves, while Angus Crichton earned a spot on the interchange alongside Payne Haas.

Otherwise, NSW were unchanged, with Jarome Hughes and Nathan Cleary in the halves, James Tedesco captaining from fullback, and Brian To’o, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr rounding out the backline.

Damien Cook started at hooker, while Daniel Saifiti, Cameron Murray, Tariq Sims and Isaah Yeo retained their places in the side.

Jack Wighton and Liam Martin also kept their places on the bench.

Game 1

NSW Blues

Brad Fittler named a 19-player squad for the Origin opener in Townsville. While the group contained series-winning experience and a sizeable contingent from the table-topping Penrith Panthers, Fittler’s selections were impacted by a number of key unavailabilities.

Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen was ruled out with concussion, but the main blows came to the forward pack. Lock Victor Radley (suspension), and second rowers Angus Crichton (suspension) and Tyson Frizell (ankle injury) were all not available for selection.

The Blues still had a strong side though. Superstar James Tedesco captained the team from fullback, with lethal tryscorers Brian To’o and Josh Addo-Carr on the wings. It was To’o’s first Origin appearance after a barnstorming start to the NRL season.

Fittler opted for an all-new centre pairing of Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, both of whom were making their return to the Blues after missing the 2020 series. The duo excelled at fullback for their respective club sides and had both played centre for NSW before with great success.

Panthers duo Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai linked up in the halves, Luai winning the race for the five-eighth jersey ahead of Jack Wighton, who started on the bench. Damien Cook was once again the side’s hooker, keeping the number nine jersey he has held since the start of 2018.

Daniel Saifiti and Jake Trbojevic started in the front row despite questions over their club form, and there was plenty of mobility in the rest of the forward pack with Cameron Murray named in the second row and Isaah Yeo at lock. Tariq Sims was something of a surprise selection to partner Murray.

Joining Wighton on the bench were forwards Junior Paulo, Payne Haas and Liam Martin, while Api Koroisau and Campbell Graham were 18th and 19th man respectively. Keaon Koloamatangi was a late addition to the squad a week out from Game 1.

The selections meant a number of players have dropped out of last year’s squad – Daniel Tupou, Clint Gutherson, Cody Walker, Dale Finucane and Nathan Brown were all gone from the side that lined up in Games 2 and 3 of 2020, as well as the unavailable Crichton and Frizell.

Queensland Maroons

The Blues weren’t the only ones dealing with the unavailabilities of key players for the Origin opener. New coach Paul Green named a 20-man squad in alphabetical order rather than by position, and was without the services of prop Josh Papalii (suspended), and the injured Kalyn Ponga, Lindsay Collins, Brenko Lee, Corey Allan. On top of that, Cameron Munster (foot), Harry Grant (hamstring) and AJ Brimson (knee) all entered camp under injury clouds.

While Brimson and Munster are expected to be fit, Kalyn Ponga was officially ruled out of Game 1 with a groin injury a week before kick-off, despite initially being selected in the squad. In his absence, Valentine Holmes started at fullback instead of out wide, with Kyle Feldt making his long-awaited Origin debut on the wing opposite Xavier Coates.

Harry Grant started at hooker, with AJ Brimson backing him up as the bench utility.

After being released from the squad to play for Parramatta, backup hooker Reed Mahoney was ruled out of Game 1 while on club duty with a shoulder injury, meaning Ben Hunt came in as the squad’s 19th man.

Munster was passed fit and lined up at five-eighth alongside captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.

Kurt Capewell and Tino Fa’ausuamaleaui both excelled in their first Origin series and were backed to do the job once again – albeit with Capewell returning to the centres, where he made his Origin debut – as were Jai Arrow, Moeaki Fotuaika, Coen Hess, Jaydn Su’A and Christian Welch.

Felise Kaufusi is another familiar face in the squad, and was cleared to play Game 1 after beating a tripping charge at the judiciary.

David Fifita was a big inclusion after missing last year with injury. The Gold Coast second-rower had been in blistering form to start the season and was one of four Titans picked in the squad. Joe Ofahenguae also made a return to the Queensland squad following some strong performances for the Tigers.

2020 State of Origin teams

Game 3

Queensland Maroons
After being relatively settled for Game 2, injuries and the Sydney result saw the Maroons make mass changes to their team for the decider.

Corey Allan, after initially being named on the wing, made his Queensland debut at fullback, moving Valentine Holmes to the wing in place of the injured Xavier Coates.

Coates’ late groin injury also saw Edrick Lee picked for his first Origin, Kurt Capewell moved from the centres to the second row, and Brenko Lee brought into the side for his first Maroons cap.

Capewell’s introduction to the second row saw Jaydn Su’A moved back to the bench and Dunamis Lui dropped from the side entirely.

The other changes for Queensland saw Harry Grant called onto the bench to make his debut in place of Ben Hunt, and Christian Welch recalled to the front row after missing Game 2 due to concussion protocols. Five-eighth Cameron Munster was also fit to play after picking up a head knock early in Sydney, and put in a man-of-the-match display.

Hunt and Lui were the two reserves.

NSW Blues
Whereas Queensland made plenty of changes to their side, the story couldn’t have been more different for Brad Fittler and the Blues. Not only did NSW go into Game 3 1-17 as originally named, it was the exact same group that won the second match of the series, with Fittler deciding against changing any part of his team.

The Blues were sweating on the fitness of star winger Josh Addo-Carr after he was seen on crutches and in a moon boot leading up to the game, but the Melbourne flyer was named to take his place on the right wing and played the full 80 minutes, although looked hampered at times.

The only changes to the matchday squad came in the reserves, where Ryan Papenhuyzen was named as a backup for the first time in the series. Cameron McInnes was the other standby player.

Game 2

NSW Blues
The Blues were dealt two massive injury blows during their Game 1 loss. Boyd Cordner was forced from the field with a head knock and, while he passed his HIA and returned to the field, the skipper was ruled out of the rest of the series due to his history of concussion. They were also without Cameron Murray, after he sustained a hamstring strain in his very first run during Game 1.

James Tedesco took over the captaincy from Cordner, with Angus Crichton taking the vacant second-row position following a strong performance off the bench in the series opener.

Payne Haas was promoted from the bench to starting prop, with Junior Paulo moving in the other direction.

The big selection surprise for the Blues was the shock omission of Luke Keary. He was left out of the 17 altogether, with Cody Walker being promoted to the starting five-eighth. The rest of the backline was unchanged.

The bench for Game 2 was completely different to the one used in Adelaide. With Walker, Haas and Crichton all moving into the starting side, Dale Finucane, Nathan Brown and Isaah Yeo were brought onto the pine alongside Paulo for their first appearances of the series. Brown and Yeo made their Origin debuts.

Queensland Maroons
The Maroons won Game 1 18-14, but were dealt a massive injury blow with fullback AJ Brimson ruled out of the rest of the series with a syndesmosis injury. Valentine Holmes, who was unavailable for the Adelaide match due to suspension, took his place at fullback.

Kurt Capewell, one of Queensland’s best in the opener, had been under an injury cloud with groin tightness, but was named to play. Christian Welch was also ruled out with a head knock, replaced in the run-on side by Dunamis Lui.

Other changes to Queensland’s side included Jaydn Su’A replacing Coen Hess in the second row and Moeaki Fotuaika taking Su’A’s place in the interchange bench.

Game 1

Queensland
It was an almost unrecognisable Maroons lineup compared to Game 3 last year, with no fewer than ten personnel changes for Wayne Bennett’s side coming into the series-opener.

Corey Oates, Moses Mbye, Will Chambers, Corey Norman, Joe Ofahengaue, Ethan Lowe, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan, Tim Glasby and David Fifita were all missing from last year’s decider due to either form or fitness.

In fact, Daly Cherry-Evans at halfback, Josh Papalii at right prop and Felise Kaufusi in the second row were the only similarities between this side and the one that took the field last time for Queensland.

Four other players retained their spots but changed positions, with Cameron Munster moving from fullback to five-eighth, Dane Gagai shifting from the wing to the centres, Christian Welch moving off the bench and into the forward pack and Ben Hunt dropping to the interchange from hooker.

The new-look backline saw AJ Brimson make his Origin debut at fullback, Brenko Lee join Gagai in the centres, while Xavier Coates and Phillip Sami formed a new pairing on the wings.

It was Munster and Cherry-Evans in the halves as expected, with Jake Friend rounding out the spine at hooker. Welch joined Papalii in the props, Coen Hess joined Felise Kaufusi in the second row and Tino Faasuamaleaui was the lock.

Hunt was joined by new additions Lindsay Collins, Jai Arrow and Jaydn Su’A on the bench.

New South Wales
The Blues didn’t exactly come into Origin 1 with a familiar cast either – they made eight changes compared to their series win last year.

The headline was a new-look halves pairing, with Nathan Cleary replacing Mitchell Pearce at halfback and Luke Keary replacing James Maloney at five-eighth. That said, it’s likely that was the halves pairing NSW would have gone with in 2019 had both players not suffered injuries.

James Tedesco retained his place at fullback, as did Josh Addo-Carr on the right wing and Jack Wighton in the centres. Daniel Tupou took the left wing spot off Blake Ferguson, while Clint Gutherson slotted into the centres after Tom Trbojevic was ruled out with injury.

The forward pack, on the other hand, was barely changed. Junior Paulo earned the nod alongside Daniel Saifiti at prop following David Klemmer’s controversial exclusion from the squad, but otherwise it was business as usual. Boyd Cordner and Tyson Frizell again manned the second row and Jake Trbojevic lined up at lock. Damien Cook also retained his place at hooker.

Cody Walker, who many thought could steal a starting halves spot, got his chance as the bench utility, with Payne Haas, Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton rounding out the bench.

Series squads

Due to the nature of this year’s tournament, both NSW and Queensland named 27-man squads to be used across the whole series.

New South Wales

New South Wales Blues Origin squad
Nathan Brown, Josh Addo-Carr, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nathan Cleary, Damien Cook, Boyd Cordner, Nick Cotric, Angus Crichton, Stephen Crichton, Dale Finucane, Tyson Frizell, Clint Gutherson, Payne Haas, Luke Keary, Zac Lomax, Larome Luai, Cameron McInnes, Cameron Murray, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Junior Paulo, Daniel Saifiti, James Tedesco, Jake Trbojevic, Daniel Tupou, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Isaah Yeo

Brad Fittler named an Origin squad of 27 players, seven of which competed in the NRL grand final.

Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane and Ryan Papenhuyzen were the three Storm players to make the cut, while four Panthers were selected: Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Stephen Crichton and Isaah Yeo. However, Papenhuyzen missed the first match as he managed a calf injury.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs had Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Cody walker selected, while the Canberra Raiders had two representatives in Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton.

Both clubs had fewer selections than the beaten semi-finalists, the Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters. The Roosters had five representatives: captain and second-rower Boyd Corndner, five-eighth Luke Keary, second-rower Angus Crichton, star fullback James Tedesco and winger Daniel Tupou.

There were four Eels selected in the wider squad: front-rowers Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo, edge forward Dylan Brown and fullback Clint Gutherson. However, Gutherson was tipped to take the place in the centres left by Tom Trbojevic’s series-ending injury.

Of the other selections, Payne Haas, Daniel Saifiti, Tyson Frizell and Jake Trbojevic all played a part in the Blues’ 2019 series victory. Jake’s brother and Manly teammate Tom had initially been included in the squad, but was ruled out of the series after an injury-plagued 2020 and later replaced by the uncapped Zac Lomax.

Dragons hooker/lock Cameron McInnes was the other selection, as a depth player.

There were a couple of eye-raising non-selections, too. Prop David Klemmer, one of the Blues best in the past two series victories, was a notable omission after the Knights’ season ended, while Sharks second-rower Wade Graham, another key player in the 2019 success, was also left out. Klemmer’s fellow prop Paul Vaughan was another omission. Many were expecting Souths centre Campbell Graham to come into the squad after and excellent year, but he was overlooked by Fittler.

Backs Kotoni Staggs and Latrell Mitchell, like Tom Trbojevic, were not available for selection due to injury.

Queensland Maroons

Corey Allan, Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson, Patrick Carrigan, Kurt Capewell, Daly Cherry-Evans, Xavier Coates, Lindsay Collins, Tino Faasuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika, Jake Friend, Dane Gagai, Harry Grant, Coen Hess, Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Hymel Hunt, Felise Kaufusi, Josh Kerr, Brenko Lee, Edrick Lee, Dunamis Lui, Cameron Munster, Josh Papalii, Phillip Sami, Jaydn Su’A, Christian Welch

Maroons coach Wayne Bennett could not call on star fullback Kalyn Ponga, who missed the series to have shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.

The last additions to the squad come from grand finalists the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers. Utility Kurt Capewell was the lone Panther in the side, while there were five Storm players selected: Tino Faasuamaleaui, Felise Kaufusi, Brenko Lee, Cameron Munster and Christian Welch.

Five Maroons came from the Rabbitohs and Raiders. Jaydn Su’A, Corey Allan and Dane Gagai were the South Sydney representatives, while Dunamis Lui and Josh Papalii were the two Canberra players picked.

Four Gold Coast Titans were in the squad, the most of any club outside the Storm. AJ Brimson was the favourite to claim the no.1 jersey, Jai Arrow was a nigh-on certainty to take a spot in the forward pack, Phillip Sami was an option in a backline decimated by injury and Moeaki Fotuaika was a chance to come into the front row.

Also named were Cowboys pair Coen Hess and Valentine Holmes, although the latter missed Game 1 due to a suspension for a shoulder charge. Their club teammate, Josh McGuire, a Maroons regular in recent years, was left out of the side, as was Titans prop Jarrod Wallace, as Bennett looked to refresh the Queensland line-up after successive series defeats.

The Broncos and Dragons also had two players apiece in the side – youngsters Patrick Carrigan and Xavier Coates from Brisbane, and Ben Hunt and Josh Kerr from St George Illawarra – and there were a two further Knights in addition to Ponga: backs Hymel Hunt and Edrick Lee.

Halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans, hooker Harry Grant and Roosters duo Jake Friend and Lindsay Collins rounded out the selections.

Injuries created havoc in the Queensland squad. In addition to Ponga, all of Michael Morgan (shoulder), Anthony Milford (hamstring), Kyle Feldt (groin) and David Fifita (syndesmosis) were ruled out for the three games.