State of Origin: Slater rushes in star trio for Suncorp decider

Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai, and Selwyn Cobbo have been brough into the Maroons’ squad for a deciding Game III of the 2024 State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night.

Injuries to Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi left holes in Queensland’s backline that Slater was forced to fill with Game I star Selwyn Cobbo earning a recall along with Origin legend Dane Gagai.

Cobbo comes onto the wing with Gagai’s injection into the centres shifting Valentine Holmes out onto the flank.

Cobbo starred in Queensland’s Game I win off the bench before being a surprise omission from their Game II squad due to largely unspecified injury and form concerns.

Gagai has terrorised NSW over the years having scored a dozen tries from his 22 games as a Maroon and winning the Wally Lewis Medal in 2017.

Ponga meanwhile earns an interchange nod despite only returning from a two-and-a-half-month injury layoff on Sunday.

Jaydn Su’A has been omitted from the squad with Kurt Capewell promoted into the run-on side.

QUEENSLAND GAME III SQUAD

1. Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)
2. Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos)
3. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
5. Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys)
6. Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
8. Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)
9. Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)
10. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
11. Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys)
12. Kurt Capewell (Warriors)
13. Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
14. Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
15. Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
16. Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)
17. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)
18. Trent Loiero (Melbourne Storm)
19. Brendan Piakura (Brisbane Broncos)
20. Reed Mahoney (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

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