State of Origin: Leading Maroons forced into changes for Game II after key injuries

Mon 12 Jun 2023, 3:39am AEST - Sportingbase

Billy Slater has been forced to ring in several changes despite his Queensland Maroons taking a 1-0 series lead over New South Wales in the 2023 State of Origin series after injuries cruelled several of the state’s big-name players.

Cowboys forward Jeremiah Nanai, Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika, and Storm winger Xavier Coates are the new faces in Slater’s 19-man squad for game two. They join the team over Tom Gilbert (shoulder), Jai Arrow (ankle), Selwyn Cobbo (hip pointer) respectively.

The rest of the squad remains similar to the side that scored a historic 26-18 victory over the Blues, who capitulated in major fashion in Adelaide in the final 20 minutes of the series opener.

Of note, Reece Walsh retains his Maroons fullback jersey.

There was talks Kalyn Ponga could fight back into contention, especially after several sizzling performances from the Knights playmaker (back in his signature fullback role after another failed five-eighth experiment) but Newcastle’s skipper ruled himself out of any selection moves for the rest of the 2023 NRL season.

Titans star AJ Brimson joins the squad as 18th Man as Tom Dearden will be required to play for the Cowboys. Corey Horsburgh from the Raiders will round out the list as the team’s reverse list in 19th. If Brimson makes the field from his reserve position it will be his fourth appearance for his state side. Meanwhile, Horsburgh is in line for his debut should any shuffles or injuries see him move into the top 17 on matchday.

Coates returns to Origin for the first time since 2022. He was injured in that series opener, played in Sydney, and hasn’t featured for Queensland since.