Queensland coach Billy Slater has sent an urgent SOS to prop Josh Papalii as the Maroons look to topple the Westpac NSW Blues in Wednesday's State of Origin decider.
The veteran is set for his first Origin match since Game Three 2022 and has been tasked with making an instant impact upfront.
Queensland held on for a two-point victory to keep the series alive in Game Two and Slater has made some more bold decisions for the decider at Accor Stadium.
Kalyn Ponga's foot injury has seen Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shift to fullback, with young gun Gehamat Shibasaki handed a shock call up.
Blues coach Laurie Daley has stuck with the side that stumbled in Perth and he's backing his men to produce a much-improved first half.
NSW trailed 26-6 at half-time before scoring four tries after the break to fall agonisingly short of a monumental comeback.
The Blues secured a drought-breaking victory in last year's decider at Suncorp Stadium and they're eager to retain the shield on Wednesday night.
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 3 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Blues: NSW coach Laurie Daley has stuck with the same 17 that lost Game Two in Perth, with the only changes coming to the extended squad. Jacob Kiraz is 18th man and will come into the side if winger Brian To'o succumbs to a knee injury. Lindsay Smith and Bradman Best are the 19th and 20th men. Halves Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary have each battled injuries in recent weeks, but the pair are expected to line up at Accor Stadium.
Maroons: Josh Papalii is set for his first Origin game since 2022 after answering an SOS from coach Billy Slater. Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki is preparing for his Queensland debut in a reshuffled backline. A foot injury to Kalyn Ponga has seen Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shift to fullback, with Shibasaki coming in. Reece Walsh is the 18th man, with J'maine Hopgood and Josh Kerr in the extended squad.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Blues is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Maroons is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
-
Winger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'oWinger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates
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Centre for Blues is number 3 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Maroons is number 3 Robert Toia
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Centre for Blues is number 4 Latrell MitchellCentre for Maroons is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
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Winger for Blues is number 5 Zac LomaxWinger for Maroons is number 5 Valentine Holmes
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Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Jarome LuaiFive-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron Munster
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Halfback for Blues is number 7 Nathan ClearyHalfback for Maroons is number 7 Tom Dearden
Forwards
-
Prop for Blues is number 8 Max KingProp for Maroons is number 8 Josh Papalii
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Hooker for Blues is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Maroons is number 9 Harry Grant
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Prop for Blues is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Maroons is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
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2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Liam Martin2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Reuben Cotter
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2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Kurt Capewell
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Lock for Blues is number 13 Isaah YeoLock for Maroons is number 13 Trent Loiero
Interchange
-
Interchange for Blues is number 14 Connor WatsonInterchange for Maroons is number 14 Kurt Mann
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Interchange for Blues is number 15 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Maroons is number 15 Lindsay Collins
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Interchange for Blues is number 16 Hudson YoungInterchange for Maroons is number 16 Patrick Carrigan
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Interchange for Blues is number 17 Stefano UtoikamanuInterchange for Maroons is number 17 Jeremiah Nanai
Reserves
-
Replacement for Blues is number 18 Jacob KirazReplacement for Maroons is number 18 Reece Walsh
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Reserve for Blues is number 19 Lindsay SmithReserve for Maroons is number 19 J'maine Hopgood
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Reserve for Blues is number 20 Bradman BestReserve for Maroons is number 20 Josh Kerr
Blues Ins
- Bradman Best
- Jacob Kiraz
- Lindsay Smith
Maroons Ins
- Gehamat Shibasaki
- J'maine Hopgood
- Josh Papalii
- Josh Kerr
- Reece Walsh
Blues Outs
- Matt Burton
Maroons Ins
- Ezra Mam
- Kalyn Ponga
- Moeaki Fotuaika
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Blues have won four of the past six Origin games played at Accor Stadium.
- Five Maroons players will be appearing in their first Game Three decider.
- The Blues have won only three out of eight Game Three deciders played in Sydney.
- The Maroons are aiming to claim a series win after losing Game One for the first time since 2017.
- The Blues will field 12 members of last year’s series winning team.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
