Men's State of Origin Team Lists: Game Two

New South Wales

The Blues have made five changes as they bid to keep the series alive with Dylan Edwards, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Mitch Moses and Connor Watson all coming in. Mitchell is set for his first Origin appearance since 2021 after being named in the centres to replace the suspended Joseph Sua'ali'i, while Edwards will make his Origin debut after he was a late withdrawal from Game One due to a quad injury. Watson will also make his debut after being named on the bench in place of Hudson Young while Murray joins the side in place of Sharks lock Cameron McInnes, who is listed among the reserves. After steering NSW to victory in Game Three last year, Moses returns to the side at the expense of Nicho Hynes.

Queensland

Reece Walsh has been cleared to play and returns to the No.1 jersey after getting through just seven minutes of Game One before he was knocked out in the tackle that saw Joseph Sua'ali'i sent off. After coming on for Walsh in Sydney and playing a starring role, Selwyn Cobbo has been left out of Game Two, his place taken by Warriors veteran Kurt Capewell. Maroons coach Billy Slater said Cobbo is 'not quite 100 per cent at the moment' and the decision was made to rest him. Eels forward J'maine Hopgood is out with a back injury that kept him out of Parramatta's clash against the Roosters, with veteran forward Felise Kaufusi set for his 16th Origin appearance after being named on the bench. Dane Gagai has earned a return to the representative arena as 18th man, while Heilum Luki and Trent Loiero have been named in the extended squad as reserves.

Stat Attack

• Historically after claiming Game One in Sydney the Maroons have gone on to win seven series (1988, 1995, 1998, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2022) and lose only one (1994).
• Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored eight tries in five Origin matches. He has scored at least one try in all of his games for Queensland.
• Since Origin became a three-game series in 1982, the state that has lost the first game has come back to win the series just 10 times (out of 41).
• NSW's Ryan Girdler holds the record for most points in an Origin match with 32, in Game 3, 2000. He scored three tries and kicked 10 goals.
• Queensland's Cameron Smith holds the record for most Origin games with 42, followed by fellow Maroon Johnathan Thurston on 37.