Maroon coach Billy Slater has made major changes to the team that lost last year, with a number of debutants making their way out, with the exception of big-money Titan star David Fifita.
Fifita, who has featured for the Maroons five times since 2019, was dropped from the squad named Monday morning. Shortly afterwards, it emerged that the Hulking back-rower had developed a knee injury that he had lost to the Broncos on Friday night and would be missing for the Titans for the next 2-3 weeks.
The $ 1.2 million back-rower has rollercoaster season in 2022, with Titans coach Justin Holbrooke trying to find ways to get the best out of the big man, including positional changes, spending time at the Hulking back-row center and exchanging as an impact player. Off.
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The 22-year-old has been battling an MCL injury since returning last week.
In other changes, Slater names four debutants in 1-17 jerseys, including Broncos duo Selwin Cobo and Patrick Carrigan, as well as Ruben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai from Cowboys.
Cobbo and Nanai, both 19, will make their debut with less than 20 NRL games under their belts.
The pair have been the most exciting young star of the competition this season.
Cobbo, who has spent time in the Broncos wing this year, has made eight attempts in his last four games.
Nanai, meanwhile, has become a tri-scoring machine for cowboys with 10 to 12 appearances this year.
The Queensland squad was named after Brad Fitler selected some shocks in his NSW squad. See full blues 22 here.
Queensland Maroons Game I Squad
- Kalin Ponga – Newcastle Nights
- Selwyn Cobo – Brisbane Broncos
- Valentine Homes – North Queensland Cowboys
- Dan Gagai – Newcastle Knights
- Xavier Coates – Melbourne Storm
- Cameron Munster – Melbourne Storm
- Daily Cherry-Evans – Manly Sea Eagles
- Gold Coast Titans – Gold Coast Titans
- Ben Hunt – St. George Ilawara Dragons
- Josh Papali – Canberra Raider
- Kurt Capwell – Brisbane Broncos
- Felice Kaufusi – Melbourne Storm
- Ruben Cotter – North Queensland Cowboy
- Harry Grant – Melbourne Storm
- Lindsay Collins – Sydney Roasters
- Patrick Carrigan – Brisbane Broncos
- Jeremiah Nanai – North Queensland Cowboy
- Tom Dearden – North Queensland Cowboy
- Joy Arrow – South Sydney Rabbit
- Thomas Flaler – Brisbane Broncos
- Hamiso Tabuai – Fido – North Queensland Cowboy
- Murray Toulagi – North Queensland Cowboy
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Slater has welcomed South Sydney forward Joy Arrow to the team after he was named in the camp for the wrong reason last year.
The 26-year-old was fined $ 35,000 for bringing “unregistered guests” to the Gold Coast’s Maroons Hotel three days before the match, as well as a two-game suspension.
The arrow may have to wait a while before being featured in the 17th after being named on the extended bench.
Meanwhile, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins is returning to his origins and will be out of the interchange after missing last year’s series due to an ACL injury.
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Hamiso Tabuai-Fido, who scored in the Maroons’ three wins against the Blues last year, has been dropped from 17 matches and has been named to the extended bench.
Tabuai-Fidow has spent most of the 2022 season in exchange for the Cowboys since returning from PCL injury.
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