State of Origin Late Mail: Maroons swing changes; Blues 1-17
The teams have been finalised for tonight's Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium with the Maroons swinging a number of late changes in the forwards.
Felise Kaufusi, Moeaki Fotuaika and Harry Grant will all start the game with Lindsay Collins, Ben Hunt and Jeremiah Nanai going to the bench.
NSW centre Bradman Best takes his place in Wednesday night's Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium despite missing some early Blues training sessions due to hamstring tightness.
Best, who was called in to replace Latrell Mitchell, had been on a restricted training program after suffering hamstring tightness following Newcastle's 16-12 defeat of Canberra in Round 18.
The 22-year-old, who made his Origin debut in Game Three last year, was untroubled in an opposed session on Saturday against Mudgee Dragons and travelled with the team to Brisbane on Sunday.
Matt Burton, who had trained in the centres in place of Best, will be 18th man in the Origin decider.
Both Harry Grant and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow trained strongly for the Maroons on Thursday, despite the duo sitting out their past two club games.
The Storm skipper and Dolphins fullback took part in an opposed session against Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Thursday with no issues.
Official squads and team lists for Game Three of the 2024 Ampol State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 17.
State of Origin Team Lists: Game Three
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Queensland
The Maroons have made three late changes with Ben Hunt, Lindsay Collins and Jeremiah Nanai benched and Harry Grant, Moeaki Fotuaika and Felise Kaufusi starting the game. Kaufusi will start at prop and Reuben Cotter moves to the second row.
Queensland have recalled 22-game veteran Dane Gagai and his Knights teammate Kalyn Ponga to the Origin arena, with both men set to play their first game since the 2022 decider. Broncos outside back Selwyn Cobbo also returns after being rested from Game Two, slotting into the centres with Val Holmes moving to the wing to replace Murray Taulagi (hamstring). Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is right for the game after suffering a shoulder injury in Melbourne during Game Two. Warriors back-rower Kurt Capewell comes into the starting side in place of Jaydn Su'A. The Storm's Trent Loiero is 18th man.
New South Wales
Michael Maguire's Blues will run out 1-17 as named. Knights centre Bradman Best and Warriors forward Mitch Barnett are the new faces in the NSW team. After making five changes for Game Two in Melbourne, Blues coach Michael Maguire has recalled Best in place of the injured Latrell Mitchell, while Barnett replaces interchange forward Haumole Olakau'atu. There was a scare for the Blues last Monday when Best went for scans on his hamstring. The centre resumed full training on Saturday and will take his place on Wednesday night. Matt Burton is 18th man.
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Blues is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Maroons is number 2 Selwyn CobboWinger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'o
-
Centre for Maroons is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Blues is number 3 Bradman Best
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Centre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowCentre for Blues is number 4 Stephen Crichton
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Winger for Maroons is number 5 Valentine HolmesWinger for Blues is number 5 Zac Lomax
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Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Tom DeardenFive-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Jarome Luai
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Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Blues is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
-
Prop for Maroons is number 15 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Blues is number 8 Jake Trbojevic
-
Hooker for Maroons is number 14 Harry GrantHooker for Blues is number 9 Reece Robson
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Prop for Maroons is number 16 Felise KaufusiProp for Blues is number 10 Payne Haas
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2nd Row for Maroons is number 8 Reuben Cotter2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Liam Martin
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2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Angus Crichton
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Lock for Maroons is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Blues is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 9 Ben HuntInterchange for Blues is number 14 Connor Watson
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 10 Lindsay CollinsInterchange for Blues is number 15 Isaah Yeo
-
Interchange for Maroons is number 12 Jeremiah NanaiInterchange for Blues is number 16 Mitchell Barnett
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Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Kalyn PongaInterchange for Blues is number 17 Spencer Leniu
Reserves
-
Replacement for Maroons is number 18 Trent LoieroReplacement for Blues is number 18 Matt Burton
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
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 nine tries in six 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).
- The last time the Blues won a series decider in Brisbane was 2005. Of 13 deciders played in Queensland since 1982 the Blues have won just two.
- Queensland's Cameron Smith holds the record for most Origin games with 42, followed by fellow Maroon Johnathan Thurston on 37.
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
