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Blues v Maroons: Best, Keaon to debut; Horsburgh gets his shot

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The Blues are out to save face in front of their home fans and the Maroons are looking for a rare clean sweep as the Ampol State of Origin series reaches its climax in Sydney.

Having lost seven of the past 11 Origin games and three of the past four series, the Blues have pinned their faith in a new-look side that includes two debutants in Bradman Best and Keaon Koloamatangi and four players recalled to the fold in Cody Walker, Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jacob Saifiti.

The last time the Blues were on the end of a clean sweep was 2010, the fifth year of the Maroons' incredible eight-year dynasty, and it will take a mighty turnaround from a 32-6 loss in Brisbane to deny Queensland the fifth ever sweep.

The Maroons are far more settled and full of confidence as they look to put the finishing touches on Billy Slater's second straight series win as coach.

The man who distinguished himself in 31 Origin games as a player has made a flying start to his coaching career, joining Arthur Beetson (1982-83), Mal Meninga (2006-07) and Kevin Walters (2016-17) as the only Maroons mentors to win their first two series.

Collecting the Origin shield after a loss can be a very hollow feeling and it's one the Maroons will be eager to avoid as they chase back-to-back wins in Sydney after a 16-10 triumph in Game One last year.

Team News 

Blues: The Blues are 1-17 with no late changes.

Coach Brad Fittler has made seven changes to the side that lost Game Two with Rabbitohs back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi and Knights centre Bradman Best to make their Origin debuts and Cody Walker, Clint Gutherson, Jacob Saifiti and Reagan Campbell-Gillard recalled to the Blues side. Manly star Jake Trbojevic is also back after missing the first two games with a calf injury. 

Payne Haas (ankle) and Tom Trbojevic (pectoral) were unavailable for selection while Jarome Luai, Hudson Young, Stefano Utoikamanu, Junior Paulo and Tyson Frizell have been omitted.

Maroons: The Maroons will take the field 1-17 with no late changes.

Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh has been named make his Origin debut after he was part of the extended squad earlier in the series while AJ Brimson takes over at fullback for Reece Walsh (suspended). Titans flyer Brimson, who was 18th Man for Game Two, returns to the starting line-up at fullback after making his Origin debut in the position in 2020.

Horsburgh's inclusion comes at the expense of Broncos prop Thomas Flegler, who is unavailable for selection with a foot injury. The Maroons are otherwise unchanged from their series-clinching win in Brisbane with Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden named as 18th Man, while Eels forward J'maine Hopgood joins the squad as 19th Man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Blues is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Maroons is number 1 AJ Brimson
  • Winger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'o
    Winger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates
  • Centre for Blues is number 3 Stephen Crichton
    Centre for Maroons is number 3 Valentine Holmes
  • Centre for Blues is number 4 Bradman Best
    Centre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
  • Winger for Blues is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
    Winger for Maroons is number 5 Murray Taulagi
  • Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Cody Walker
    Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron Munster
  • Halfback for Blues is number 7 Mitchell Moses
    Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly  Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Blues is number 8 Jake Trbojevic
    Prop for Maroons is number 8 Reuben Cotter
  • Hooker for Blues is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Maroons is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Blues is number 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
    Prop for Maroons is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
  • 2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Liam Martin
    2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 David Fifita
  • 2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Keaon Koloamatangi
    2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
  • Lock for Blues is number 13 Cameron Murray
    Lock for Maroons is number 13 Patrick Carrigan

Interchange

  • Interchange for Blues is number 14 Isaah Yeo
    Interchange for Maroons is number 14 Ben Hunt
  • Interchange for Blues is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
    Interchange for Maroons is number 15 Lindsay Collins
  • Interchange for Blues is number 16 Reece Robson
    Interchange for Maroons is number 16 Moeaki Fotuaika
  • Interchange for Blues is number 17 Clinton Gutherson
    Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Corey Horsburgh

Reserves

  • Replacement for Blues is number 18 Scott Drinkwater
    Replacement for Maroons is number 18 Tom Dearden

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Maroons have had four clean sweeps in Origin history - in 1988, 1989, 1995 and 2010.
  • Darren Lockyer holds the record for most points in a series by a Queensland player with 34 in 2001. Val Holmes has so far accumulated 22 points in the 2023 series with two tries and seven goals.

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

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