STATE OF ORIGIN
Hunt called into Queensland Origin squad
Author
Chris Kennedy NRL.com Reporter Timestamp Mon 7 Jun 2021, 01:54 PM
Share on social media
The Maroons have called in Dragons veteran
Ben Hunt to their squad following back-up hooker
Reed Mahoney's shoulder injury.
Mahoney was released from camp to play for the Eels against Newcastle on Sunday but suffered a shoulder injury and is out of action for a couple of weeks.
The QRL sought an exemption to add Hunt and
announced on Monday morning that the request had been approved.
Queensland also have other dramas with centre
Dane Gagai missing a second straight training session on Sunday as he battles a case of tonsillitis, however he returned to the squad on Monday and will be fine for game day.
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 1 - Wednesday 9th June
8:10pm
Home Team
Maroons
Away Team
Blues
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Match broadcasters:
Buy Tickets
Team news
Maroons: Dane Gagai missed two field sessions due to illness but Daly Cherry-Evans said the Rabbitohs centre was back on deck on Monday and would be fine by kick-off.
Back-up hooker Reed Mahoney was released from camp to play for the Eels against Newcastle on Sunday but suffered a shoulder injury and is out of action for a couple of weeks.
St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hunt will take his place on the extended bench. Hunt or Cowboys forward Coen Hess are likely to be 18th man on game night.
Cameron Munster has been cleared to play, AJ Brimson has trained in a knee brace and also looks set to play.
Veteran back-rower Felise Kaufusi beat his tripping charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night and is free to play.
Blues: Payne Haas (knee bone bruise), James Tedesco and Josh Addo-Carr (both hip pointer) returned to the training paddock on Thursday and all are expected to play.
NSW will start three debutants in their match-day 17 with Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai being joined by club teammates Brian To'o and Liam Martin in pulling on the sky blue for the first time. Their introduction should be eased by the presence of fellow Panthers Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.
Rising Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi has been added to the squad to offer extra cover across their pack and gain experience in the NSW senior set-up for the first time.
NSW
1. James Tedesco. The Roosters and Blues captain has seven tries this year (but none since round four) but has set up six tries in his past four matches. He is in no doubt despite being troubled by a hip pointer injury in round 12.
2. Brian To'o. One of three debutants in the Blues side, the Penrith pocket rocket easily leads the NRL for run metres (2946 at 245 per game) and is second in the NRL for tackle busts with 73.
3. Latrell Mitchell. The South Sydney superstar is recalled to the Origin arena in his former position of centre having scored five tries and set up nine more in his eight games this year.
4. Tom Trbojevic. Returns after missing last year injured in the centre position in which he dominated the 2019 series. Has eight tries and 12 try assists in just seven games this year.
5. Josh Addo-Carr. The Storm speedster returns for his fourth Origin series and is topping the NRL try-scoring list with 15 – including six in one game in round nine, the first time a player has scored six in a game in 71 years.
6. Jarome Luai. Another debutant picked by Fittler, the Mt Druitt livewire registered the equal-most try assists last year with 23 and is leading the way again this year with 14 in 12 games – two ahead of his halves partner.
7. Nathan Cleary. The Panthers co-captain heads into his fourth Origin series in imperious form; his 146 points is miles ahead of next-best Adam Reynolds (114), his big right boot has collected a league-best 5573 kick metres and his 12 try assists trails only Luai across the NRL.
8. Daniel Saifiti. The hard-running Knights prop has gone from shock bolter to automatic selection over the past two Origin series with his huge line-bending carries his biggest asset. Saifiti's running figures of 9.5 metres per hit-up carry and 147 total metres per game are both top 10 among middle forwards in the NRL.
9. Damien Cook. Has been arguably the best running No.9 in the NRL for five years now and despite questions over his early 2021 form his six line breaks are the most by any hooker this year with 62 metres per game while his 19 busts trail only Storm rake Brandon Smith.
10. Jake Trbojevic. Listed to start at prop for just the second time but has excelled as a big-minute bench prop for NSW in the past, Trbojevic's form has lifted through the season. His lighting-quick 2.91 second average play-the-ball is third best among all regular NRL starters.
The Blues pose for their team photo at Coogee. ©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
11. Cameron Murray. The South Sydney lock returned last week from an ankle injury and is named to start on an edge, a position he has filled in at times for the Bunnies and has earned him his first run-on start in his fifth Origin.
12. Tariq Sims. The Dragons firebrand is the only specialist edge forward in Fittler's 17. Loves to pressure opposition halves and has recorded an NRL-high three chargedowns this year.
13. Isaah Yeo. The unsung hero of Penrith's surge to a historic 12-0 start to the year, Yeo's ball-playing, linking role between his halves and backs and uncanny knack of taking the correct option is boosted by his own impressive nuts-and-bolts stats with 9.9 metres per hit-up and an effective tackle rate of 94.9%.
14. Jack Wighton. Wighton's Raiders may be struggling for wins but last year's Dally M winner's effort never wavers, as attested by his 115 runs and 84 average metres. A big body with the ability to cover halves, centre and fullback make him the ideal Origin utility.
15. Junior Paulo. A ball-playing prop going into his second Origin series, Paulo's 21 offloads (seventh-most in the NRL) and 132 metres per game should provide some impetus from the interchange.
16. Payne Haas. The Broncos big man sent a scare through Blues camp when he came off with a knee injury in round 12 but he is reportedly fine with just some bruising. His huge motor and ability bend the line have generated 163 metres per game and 10.9 metres gained per hit-up.
ebutant after Dragons back-rower Tyson Frizell was ruled out late on Sunday. The Temora product's belligerent running game and ability to play middle or edge will be an asset to Fittler's squad.
18. Api Koroisau. The 2014 premiership-winner comes in as Cook's understudy and is the sixth Panther in the squad and has slotted well back into Penrith since returning from a broken wrist in round eight.
19. Campbell Graham. The lanky Rabbitohs centre played under Fittler in his junior Origin years when he represented NSW alongside the likes of Cameron Murray and Payne Haas.
The biggest rivalry in rugby league returns to its mid-year billing in 2021 with the game's showpiece to get underway at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 9.
www.dragons.com.au
............................... nah keep it on a wedsday
