Matters of State: DCE call set to be biggest of Slater's coaching career

Former Maroons greats Paul Vautin and Trevor Gillmeister have nominated Titans forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who is one of five NRL club captains in the Queensland team.

The others are fullback Kalyn Ponga (Knights), hooker Harry Grant (Storm), forward Reuben Cotter and Dearden (Cowboys co-captains) but not all are assured of their positions as Slater ponders changes for Origin II on June 18.

Fullback

• Incumbent: Kalyn Ponga
• Contenders: Reece Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

The Maroons fullback in 2024, Reece Walsh, returned from a knee injury for the Broncos in Saturday night's 44-14 demolition of the Titans but Slater may consider his seven-week stint on the sidelines too big a risk after picking several underdone players in Origin I. Kalyn Ponga ran 163m from 21 carries of the ball in the series opener but his ability to get into any space was limited by the astute kicking game of Blues halves Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, and the kick-chase of their team-mates. The Knights superstar has been regarded as the long term Queensland No.1 since his Origin debut in 2018 but Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are now hold equal standing in the NRL. If Slater wants speed at the back, then Tabuai-Fidow could be the answer and a positional switch from left centre would also give him room to move in attack.

Wingers

• Incumbents: Xavier Coates, Val Holmes
• Contenders: Jesse Arthars, Xavier Savage

Queensland’s tactics in Origin I were to exploit the height advantage Xavier Coates had over NSW’s left winger Brian To’o and the aerial attack was partly effective, resulting in a frustrated To’o being sinbinned just before halftime. However, Val Holmes was playing out of position on the left wing as he usually plays in the centres for the Dragons, while the man on his inside –Tabuai-Fidow – was also not in his regular position and the Blues pairing of Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax easily won the points battle.

Selwyn Cobbo is a big body who plays on the wing for the Broncos and has Origin experience, but his axing for the Titans match on Saturday night all but rules him out. Team-mate Jesse Arthars was in the Maroons extended squad for Origin I and has been in career best form for the Broncos. Raiders flyer Xavier Savage may be a wildcard option if Slater opts for speed and he has been a sensation this season, scoring nine tries in 12 matches.

Centres

• Incumbents: Rob Toia, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
• Contenders: Val Holmes, Kurt Capewell, Jaxon Purdue, Jack Howarth

Sydney Roosters rookie Robert Toia went into Origin I as the least experienced Maroons player in 30 years and held his own at right centre opposite Latrell Mitchell. Tabuai-Fidow never really got a chance to use his speed in attack and there is a view that Val Holmes could shift into the centre role, which he is more familiar with at NRL level, while Tabuai-Fidow moves to fullback. If Slater wants to focus on defence, then Warriors edge specialist Kurt Capewell could be an option as he has been playing in the centres and starred in Saturday night's 40-10 humbling of the Sharks.

Capewell is capable in attack too, but Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue has been a revelation this season playing left centre before moving into five-eighth three weeks ago. Purdue has speed to burn and has been a regular try scorer - crossing eight times in 12 matches - who won't be fazed by another step up. Melbourne's Jack Howarth would have been in the frame for Origin I until he dislocated his shoulder in Round 7 but made his return last weekend and may come under consideration.

 Five-eighth

• Incumbent: Cameron Munster
• Contender: Tom Dearden

Cameron Munster is certain to retain the No.6 jersey.

Halfback

• Incumbent: Daly Cherry-Evans
• Contender: Tom Dearden

It would be a massive call for Slater to drop his captain and Queensland’s first choice No.7 since 2018 mid-series. Daly Cherry-Evans became the oldest player to pull on an Origin jersey in the series opener and Tom Dearden is considered his heir apparent. Dearden made an impact when he came on at dummy half in the 53rd minute of Origin I but whether he could do that for the full 80 minutes at halfback is uncertain.