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Maroons v Blues: Robson to start; Two changes for Maroons

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pan66.com
Timestamp

After getting the job done in Game One in Adelaide the Maroons stand just 80 minutes away from retaining the Origin shield and making it three series wins in the past five years.

Both sides have been forced into changes due to injury so the line-ups will look vastly different to those took the field in Game One, with the Blues losing star playmaker Nathan Cleary and the Maroons missing forwards Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert.

The 17 men who take the field for Queensland will have the advantage of doing it on home soil in front of a boisterous Suncorp Stadium crowd, with history showing the Blues face a monumental task to keep the series alive.

Since Arthur Beetson led the Maroons to victory in the first ever State of Origin match in 1980, the ledger stands at 37 wins for Queensland, 20 to NSW and one draw in matches played at Lang Park/Suncorp Stadium.

The Maroons have won eight of the past 10 clashes at Suncorp but the Blues can take some solace from the fact they kept Queensland scoreless in the second game of the 2021 series to wrap up the series in enemy territory.

Of the 17 who played for the Blues that night, 11 will be part of the squad in Game Two, including hooker Damien Cook, who returns to the fold after being overlooked in favour of Api Koroisau in the series opener.

Team News

Maroons: Reuben Cotter and Thomas Flegler moved into the starting pack for Queensland an hour before kick-off, bumping Lindsay Collins and Jeremiah Nanai back to the bench. Billy Slater's side is otherwise as named, with Nanai back after missing the series opener due to suspension and Titans big man Moeaki Fotuaika making his first appearance since 2021. Ben Hunt starts at hooker with Harry Grant coming off the bench, which worked so well in Game One. AJ Brimson is the 18th man. 

Blues: Reece Robson gets the nod to start at hooker in his Origin debut, with Damien Cook moving back to the bench. Cameron Murray has overcome his quad injury and takes his place on the bench, while Liam Martin is good to go after a layoff with a head knock. Josh Addo-Carr and Brian To'o are tipped switch wings come kick-off, after playing on the opposite side to their club efforts in Game One. To'o is expected to return to the right wing, where he plays for Penrith this year, while Addo-Carr is set partner Stephen Crichton on the left, despite the Panthers centre playing on the right this year.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Blues is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'o
  • Centre for Maroons is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Blues is number 3 Stephen Crichton
  • Centre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
    Centre for Blues is number 4 Tom Trbojevic
  • Winger for Maroons is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Blues is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
  • Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron Munster
    Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Jarome Luai
  • Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Blues is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

  • Prop for Maroons is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
    Prop for Blues is number 8 Junior Paulo
  • Hooker for Maroons is number 9 Ben Hunt
    Hooker for Blues is number 17 Reece Robson
  • Prop for Maroons is number 15 Thomas Flegler
    Prop for Blues is number 10 Payne Haas
  • 2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 David Fifita
    2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Maroons is number 16 Reuben Cotter
    2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Hudson Young
  • Lock for Maroons is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
    Lock for Blues is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Maroons is number 8 Lindsay Collins
    Interchange for Blues is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Interchange for Maroons is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    Interchange for Blues is number 14 Stefano  Utoikamanu
  • Interchange for Maroons is number 14 Harry Grant
    Interchange for Blues is number 15 Cameron Murray
  • Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Moeaki Fotuaika
    Interchange for Blues is number 16 Liam Martin

Reserves

  • Replacement for Maroons is number 18 AJ Brimson
    Replacement for Blues is number 18 Matt Burton

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Blues have only once won Game Two at Suncorp after losing Game One of the series. That win came in Game 2, 1998.
  • Maroons winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored three tries in his two Origin matches.
  • Blues fullback James Tedesco had a game-high seven tackle breaks in Game One. His teammate Brian To'o broke six tackles while Maroons forward David Fifita had five tackle breaks.
  • New Blues hookers Damien Cook (677 tackles) and Reece Robson (617 tackles) are the top two tacklers in the NRL after 15 rounds.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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