Billy Slater’s Queensland Maroons team announcement is imminent, with multiple selection headaches after two key injuries.
Both Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow have been ruled out for the series, while the ripple effect of some shock decisions ahead of Game I is still being felt.
Maroons officials have revealed they will likely announce their team on Monday morning or early afternoon and have made some shock decisions in the meantime.
Read below for all Queensland team updates ahead of Monday’s team announcement!
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QUEENSLAND’S LATEST INJURY BLOW
Gun winger Selwyn Cobbo is reportedly out of Game II after aggravating a hip injury in the Broncos’ Saturday night win over the Knights.
Billy Slater has already lost both Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert with Cobbo joining the pair on the sidelines according to The Courier Mail.
Storm flyer Xavier Coates has reportedly won the vacant spot after a blistering two-try performance against the Sharks.
Cobbo scored a double in the series opener and could now be sidelined for the remainder of the series.
He also missed Brisbane’s Round 14 clash against Cronulla only days after the Adelaide Origin clash and was spotted on Saturday grabbing at his hip.
Meanwhile, Coates will add to his six Origin games, returning to the side after an ankle injury ruled him out of the series in Game I last year.
BATTLE TO REPLACE ARROW
While Nanai has reportedly won Gilbert’s edge spot — Arrow’s position on the bench is still up for grabs with one man leading the race.
Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika has reportedly edged out a number of impressive forwards, earning an Origin recall, having already played four Origin games in 2020 and 2021.
The 23-year-old has been solid for Justin Holbrook’s side and is averaging 137 running metres per game to go with 29.1 tackles per 80 minutes.
Billy Slater was also reportedly a fan of Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh who has earned a call-up to the squad, but hasn’t made the final 17.
Storm veteran Christian Welch and J’maine Hopgood were also reportedly in the running for the spot.
Fotuaika told News Corp he would “love to get back in that arena”.
“If I get the call I will do my job,” he said.
“I definitely feel I’m a lot better player than the last time I played Origin.
“I know a lot more about the game and how to play my role better now.
“I’ve played over 100 games and I know what works for me during the week with my routine.”
KP gets dancing… Can’t be stopped! | 00:45
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O’BRIEN STILL SHOCKED BY GAGAI SNUB
Knights coach Adam O’Brien revealed he is still “shocked” gun centre Dane Gagai was snubbed for the Origin series opener.
Slater axed the 32-year-old who boasts 22 games for Queensland in favour of Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Following a strong performance against the Broncos, O’Brien once again spoke about Gagai’s disappointment about missing out on Maroons selection.
On Saturday night Gagai ran for 130 metres to go with six tackle busts, a try assist and two line break assists.
“I don’t think just tonight (he’s been good), I think gags (Gagai) all season, defensively, he knew over the summer that he needed to fix up some areas of his defence and I’ve been really happy with him,” O’Brien said.
“I was a little shocked he didn’t get picked and naturally he’s disappointed, he’s a proud Queenslander.”
Slater’s decision was vindicated in Adelaide, with Tabuai-Fidow scoring the matchwinning try while the Maroons were a man down.
However, Gagai will be ready to put his hand up should any players in Queensland’s backline go down.
QLD GREAT ‘REALLY SURPRISED’ AT SHOCK SNUB AS COWBOYS STAR SET FOR CALL-UP
Queensland legends Corey Parker and Cooper Cronk remain adamant Felise Kaufusi should start over Jeremiah Nanai despite reports claiming the latter will be in the Maroons’ starting team for Origin II.
The Courier Mail reports Cowboys star Nanai is set to replace Dolphins standout Tom Gilbert for the second Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium.
It leaves Kaufusi, along with a raft of other Queensland enforcers, battling it out to fill the vacancy left by Jai Arrow who suffered an ankle injury against the Gold Coast Titans.
Several players have been touted to fill the position, with Corey Horsburgh, Christian Welch and J’maine Hopgood also in the running.
Speaking on Thursday night, Parker backed Hopgood to win a spot on the bench.
“There’s been plenty of talk about Corey Horsburgh and rightly so, but another player that I really like, and he’s got a bit of an appetite for hard work,” Parker said.
“J’maine Hopgood, I wouldn’t be surprised if those two players are to come in to the Queensland side.
“The fact that Kaufusi is up is a huge positive for Queensland.”
Another option for Queensland is Titans enforcer Moeaki Fotuaika who Gorden Tallis believes is playing his “best footy”.
“We’ve got options, Christian Welch was 18th man, I think Moeaki Fotuaika for the Titans, he has been playing the best footy that he has played since he was in Origin a couple of years ago,” Tallis said on NRL360 on Monday night.
“You’ve got Corey Horsburgh, Nanai made a statement the other day… there’s some options there, but they are a big loss.
“Billy has got a choice, and he had already said it wasn’t just the way they played, it was the way they were around the group. They were actually leaders in there.”
But Parker and Cronk believe Kaufusi, a constant presence in the Maroons squad over the years, should be an automatic selection as Queensland aims to wrap up the series.
“There’s no doubt Jeremiah Nanai is a terrific young player, but I’m picking Felise Kaufusi every day of the week, twice on Sunday in my team,” Parker said on Fox League’s Friday night coverage.
“He’s a 14-game veteran for the Queenslanders, he’s 31 years of age, he’s the ultimate professional.
“He does absolutely everything you want, everything you want, every time he takes the field whether it’s with the Dolphins, whether it’s Melbourne, whether it’s the Queenslanders.
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“I’d be really surprised if Kaufusi wasn’t in the team.”
Another element of Kaufusi’s game Parker believes is necessary is the fact the Dolphins enforcer “understands” what’s required in big games.
“He puts fear in playmakers,” Parker said.
“If you want to dig too far into the line, you know Felise Kaufusi’s right shoulder is gonna bury somewhere in your ribs.
“He does all of those little defensive things, the kick pressures, the kick chase.
“That’s not to say Jeremiah Nanai doesn’t. He’s a wonderful player and brings a different style to Felise, but I’d be having Felise Kaufusi.”
Cronk, who played 22 Origin games for Queensland, felt there was a place for both in Billy Slater’s squad for the second game of the iconic series.
“I think Kaufusi’s owned that right edge for a period of time for the Queensland team and done a terrific job,” Cronk said.
“Nanai’s got that ability to be a part of the squad and have the impact off the bench, but again, you could switch them around.
“I imagine both will be in the squad somewhere.”Slater is due to announce the Maroons squad for Game Two before Tuesday.
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EXPECTED QUEENSLAND TEAM:
1. Reece Walsh
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Tom Flegler
9. Ben Hunt.
10. Lindsay Collins
11. David Fifita
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Harry Grant
15. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Moeaki Fotuaika
18. AJ Brimson
19. Corey Horsburgh