Official squads and team news for all 2022 Representative Round games including State of Origin and Test matches.
Ampol Women's State of Origin
Friday, June 24, 7.45pm at GIO Stadium
New South Wales: Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder has recalled Dragons forward Shaylee Bent and Knights playmaker Kirra Dibb, while veteran Sam Bremner is 18th player. Corban Baxter (hamstring) is out with Dibb to start in the halves alongside Rachael Pearson.
Dally M Medal winner Emma Tonegato will make her Origin debut, although the Dragons fullback represented NSW in the interstate challenge in 2012 and 2013 so has experience at this level.
Olivia Kernick and Caitlan Johnston will make their NSW debut off the bench.
No changes to the final team with the Sky Blues to run out as per program.
Queensland: Evania Pelite and Emily Bass are set to represent Queensland for the first time. The former rugby sevens players have relished their switch to rugby league in the past two years with Pelite in particular a key for the Maroons on Friday night.
Other changes from last year's squad include the return of 40-year-old Steph Hancock on the bench, Brittany Breayley-Nati at hooker and Jessika Elliston to the bench. Titans-bound playmaker Lauren Brown will provide utility value from the interchange while there was no room for Roosters playmaker Zahara Temara and veteran winger Karina Brown, who missed Origin selection for the first time since 2015.
There were no late changes to the 17 with Queensland to run out as named.
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Kiwi Ferns v Mate Ma'a Tonga Women
Saturday, June 25, 1.10pm AEST at Mount Smart Stadium
Kiwi Ferns: The Kiwi Ferns are 1-17 with no late changes. Amy Turner and Page McGregor will both make their Kiwi Ferns debut in the centres while Broncos powerhouse Roxy Murdoch also debuts in the back row. Laishon Albert-Jones will feature in the halves alongside Raecene McGregor.
Krystal Rota will captain the young side from hooker and will likely split time with Nita Maynard following the veteran's inclusion on the bench.
Karli Hansen is the 18th player.
Mate Ma'a Tonga: The Tonga side is 1-17 with no late changes on game day. Lavinia Tauhalaliku will captain the side from fullback with Broncos outside back China Polata slotting in at five-eighth. Dragons prop Tegan Dymock will lead the forward pack after announcing her re-signing with the Red V this week, while Shannon Muru is one to watch in the back row. Noia Fotu-Moala is 18th player.
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New Zealand v Mate Ma'a Tonga
Saturday, June 25, 3.20pm AEST at Mount Smart Stadium
New Zealand: The Kiwis are 1-17 with no late changes.
Prramatta duo Dylan Brown and Marata Niukore will make their Kiwis debut after being named at five-eighth and centre respectively, with Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo also set for an international debut following his inclusion. Brown will partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves with Roosters centre Joseph Manu to feature at fullback. Peta Hiku and Jordan Rapana are the other backs.
Up front, Isaiah Papali'i starts on an edge alongside Kenny Bromwich, with in-form Raiders forward Joseph Tapine named at lock. Brandon Smith has been named at hooker with Kieran Foran named on the bench to provide cover in the spine.
Panthers forward Moses Leota is the fourth debutant named by coach Michael Maguire as he joins Foran, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Briton Nikora on the bench. Jordan Riki is 18th Man.
Mate Ma'a Tonga: Tonga are 1-17 with no late changes. Joe Ofahengaue is 18th Man.
Having been overlooked by NSW for Origin Two, Kotoni Staggs will wear the No.6 for Tonga alongside Dragons young gun Talatau Amone in the halves. Manly winger Christian Tuipulotu will make his Test debut on the wing, taking over from Daniel Tupou, who is with the Blues in Origin. The backline also features Parramatta's Will Penisini, Manly flyer Tolu Koula and destructive Dragon Moses Suli.
In his 14th international for his country Jason Taumalolo will co-captain the team alongside respected Rooster Siosiua Taukeiaho, who plays his 12th Test for Tonga. They are joined in a powerhouse pack by Addin Fonua-Blake, Sitili Tupouniua and Keaon Koloamatangi while Haumole Olakau'atu, Tevita Tatola and Moeaki Fotuaika bring impact from the bench.
Tonga are coached by caretaker coach Dean Young for this match with Kristian Woolf unavailable because of English Super League duties with St Helens.
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Samoa v Cook Islands
Saturday, June 25, 5.40pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Samoa: Samoa are 1-17 with no late changes. Coach Matt Parish's squad features Panthers quartet Charlie Staines at fullback, Taylan May on the wing, Izack Tago in the centres and Spencer Leniu on the bench, Sea Eagles pair Josh Schuster and Martin Taupau and Dragons duo Francis Molo and Jaydn Su'A in the pack.
Anthony Milford will call the shots from halfback in his eighth Test match alongside Warrior Chanel Harris-Tavita in his second.
Rabbitohs flyer Jaxson Paulo and Broncos forward Keenan Palasia get their first crack at international football while Fa'amanu Brown's remarkable comeback story continues as he plays his first Test for Samoa since the 2017 World Cup.
Dragons youngster Mat Feagai is 18th Man.
Cook Islands: Geoffrey Daniela has come in on the wing on game day with Malachi Morgan out. Tinirau Arona has shifted to hooker and Aaron Teroi goes to the bench.
Xavier Willison has gone from lock to prop, Moses Noovao-McGreal goes from the bench to lock and Reuben Porter has been added to the bench.
Under the guidance of Tony Iro, the squad features three sets of brothers - Esan and Steven Marsters, Reubenn and Vincent Rennie, and Kayal and Andre Iro, the sons of Kiwis and Cook Islands great Kevin Iro.
Titan Esan Marsters and Warrior Pride Petterson-Robati are the co-captains.
Former Warrior Anthony Gelling will look to add to the eight caps he has earned since debuting back in 2009 in the game in Cairns, which includes two at the 2013 World Cup against the USA and Wales. He slots into the centres alongside Reubenn Rennie.
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Papua New Guinea v Fiji
Saturday, June 25, 7.50pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Papua New Guinea: Tryscoring machine Alex Johnston wins his third Test cap for the Kumuls and will play fullback with Robert Derby (Northern Pride) and Solo Wane (PNG Hunters) taking the wing spots. Brisbane's David Mead will captain the side and forms a powerful centre combination with Melbourne's Justin Olam. Townsville Blackhawks star Kyle Laybutt and the Roosters' Lachlan Lam are the halves.
The forward pack features two more PNG Hunters reps in hooker Wartovo Puara and prop Sylvester Namo as well as Jacob Alick from the Gold Coast Titans. The Hunters' Junior Rop is 18th Man. The Kumuls are coached by Stanley Tepend.
Fiji: Lamar Manuel-Liolevave will start the game and Ralulu Nasoki added to the bench after second-rower Taniela Sadrugu dropped out of the side originally named on Tuesday.
RRoosters veteran Kevin Naiqama will again captain the Bati in his 20th Test match and he'll play five-eighth alongside Nautu'a Masima from Wests Magpies. Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau has the honour of co-captaining his country in his 12th Test match. Wingers Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa, centres Semi Valemei and Waqa Blake and young Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva make up a powerful back five.
Storm prop Tui Kamikamica and Kikau lead the pack along wth Taane Milne at lock while Penioni Tagituimua from the Mounties club is the No.9.
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Ampol State of Origin Game Two
Sunday, June 26, 7.50pm AEST at Optus Stadium
New South Wales: With Jack Wighton unavailable for due to Covid protocols, Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton has been called into the squad at centre, a position he handled with ease during the Panthers' 2021 premiership charge. He lines up alongside former team-mate Stephen Crichton, who has been promoted from the bench to starting centre with Kotoni Staggs overlooked.
Manly workhorse Jake Trbojevic's omission from Game One caused plenty of debate but he returns for his 14th Origin, along with Angus Crichton, who was part of series wins in 2018, '19 and '21 but was overlooked for the opener in Sydney. Cronulla powerhouse Siosifa Talakai is poised to make his Origin debut on a new-look Blues bench alongside Crichton, Junior Paulo and hooker Damien Cook, who has been replaced in the starting line-up by premiership-winning Panther Api Koroisau.
The other new faces in the squad are Victor Radley, Clint Gutherson and Jordan McLean. Forwards Ryan Matterson, Tariq Sims and Reagan Campbell-Gillard all lost theri places in the team. Nicho Hynes is again the 18th Man.
Queensland: The Maroons have been forced into a couple of changes after Reuben Cotter hurt his hamstring during warm-up for the Cowboys' game against Manly last Friday and Xavier Coates suffered an ankle injury in Game One.
Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi comes into the starting side after he was part of the extended squad in Sydney while back-rower Jai Arrow returns after missing Game Three last year for disciplinary reasons and being 18th Man in Sydney.
A former Queensland under-20s and Junior Kangaroos player, Taulagi will become the seventh Cowboy to be involved in Origin this year with teammates Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai and Cotter all featuring in the squad for Game One and Jordan McLean joining the NSW squad for Perth.
Broncos Thomas Flegler and Corey Oates have been added to the wider squad along with Titans forward Beau Fermor and Warriors fullback Reece Walsh.
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