Billy Slater has wielded the axe, with incumbent back-rower David Fifita missing out on selection in the 20-man squad, while Tom Dearden has won the battle for the vacant No.6 jersey for Queensland’s Origin I side.
Dragons star Jaydn Su’A will take over from Fifita in the backrow, with Felise Kaufusi and Brendan Piakura in the extended squad.
Surprisingly, Fifita has missed out altogether, with no place for the Titans star on the pine, with the Maroons bench made up of Harry Grant, debutant J’maine Hopgood, Mo Fotuaika and Selwyn Cobbo.
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Hopgood was included into Slater’s squad for Game III last year to gain experience but will now make his Origin debut after just 44 NRL appearances.
The in-form Cobbo will provide cover in the outside backs but his inclusion means the Maroons are a little light on with forwards, with only Fotuaika and Hopgood on the bench.
Storm star Grant will wear the No. 14 and continue his successful dummy-half rotation with starter Ben Hunt.
Slater explained the decision to dump Fifita when he fronted the media on Monday.
“This team doesn’t get selected over the last 24 hours, it’s a collection of habits over the course of the year and what players have done in the past,” Slater said.
“I wouldn’t say comfortable, that’s not what I feel right now.
“Dave created a really high standard for his footy last year. He just hasn’t quite got to that standard this year.”
Slater also eluded to a classy text message he received from Fifita after he personally delivered the news that he’d been overlooked entirely.
“I spoke to Dave last night. He’s taken the disappointing news like a true Queenslander,” Slater said.
“He wished the best for the footy team. He further re-iterated that with a text message afterwards.
“I’ve got no doubt that David will get back to the footy that he did last year and will wear a Maroons jersey in the future again.”
Blues announce new-look team for opener! | 00:42
While Blues coach Michael Maguire, who named his side on Sunday, has had to deal with a lengthy casualty ward, Billy Slater also has a few big injury headaches ahead of the series opener at Accor Stadium.
The Maroons will be without some major names for Game 1, with Cameron Munster unavailable while Tom Gilbert and Tino Fa’asuamalaeui have suffered season-ending injuries.
Tom Flegler (shoulder), meanwhile, is also expected to miss the entire series, as is the case for Kalyn Ponga (Lisfranc injury) and AJ Brimson (groin).
The injury to Munster leaves Tom Dearden to partner Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves, with the Cowboys co-captain beating out Ezra Mam for the five-eighth spot. Mam has been included in the extended squad.
Slater was bullish that Dearden would rise to the occassion.
“You don’t have to watch Tommy for too long to understand what he brings to a footy team,” he said.
“The one thing that Queensland did have when Cam Munster went down was quality players that could fill in that position.
“There wasn’t a wrong decision there (at five-eighth), but I felt Tommy has earnt this opportunity.
“He has great habits in his his game and he has done a great job for Queensland.”
There were questions over Cobbo’s inclusion on the bench, with Slater revealing the Broncos star’s versatility was a factor in his selection.
“Certainly he is there for a bit of cover but at the same time Selwyn can play various positions,” Slater said.
“I might even create one for him, who knows.
“We will plan that as the week goes on, but he is a wonderful player and we have only scratched the surface of what he can do.”
There were concerns Reece Walsh could be in doubt after missing the Broncos’ Magic Round clash, but he played well against the Titans on Sunday and came through that game unscathed.
Piakura has also been included in the extended squad to spend time with the team, eyeing a debut for the Queensland side in the future.
MAROONS GAME I SQUAD
1 Reece Walsh
2 Xavier Coates
3 Valentine Holmes
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5 Murray Taulagi
6 Tom Dearden
7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
8 Reuben Cotter
9 Ben Hunt
10 Lindsay Collins
11 Jaydn Su’A
12 Jeremiah Nanai
13 Pat Carrigan
Bench
14 Harry Grant
15 Moeaki Fotuaika
16 J’Maine Hopgood
17 Selwyn Cobbo
Reserves: 18. Felise Kaufusi, 19. Brendan Piakura, 20. Ezra Mam
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Fifita - 9:29 - Taken it like a true Queenslander
Selwyn - 9:31
When a player goes silent - Hopgood
Su’A love his habits in his game.
