State of Origin: Queensland Maroons team news ahead of Game Two

Queensland coach Billy Slater is ready to pull the trigger on a late change to his Maroons line-up for Origin II. Keep up with all the latest State of Origin news

Billy Slater is getting inside Brad Fittler’s head. Picture: Getty Images

Billy Slater is set to unleash Reuben Cotter as his starting X-factor in Origin II as the Maroons mentor’s selection trickery plays tactical mind games with embattled NSW rival Brad Fittler.

Slater confirmed he is considering thrusting Cotter into the starting back row and relegating Jeremiah Nanai as his interchange super sub in Wednesday night’s return bout at Suncorp Stadium.

Slater’s composition of the Maroons has the Blues in a spin, with Fittler mulling over switching NSW wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Brian To’o to counter the aerial threat of towering Queenslander Xavier Coates.

At 194cm, Coates is at least 12cm taller than pint-sized Blues winger To’o and the height mismatch has Fittler toying with the prospect of shifting Addo-Carr across the field to combat a Maroons aerial attack.

Fittler is under mounting pressure and, with NSW trailing 1-0, defeat at Suncorp Stadium could deliver the bullet to his Origin coaching career.

Queensland coach Billy Slater is considering a late change to the Maroons line-up. Picture: Richard Walker

On the cusp of back-to-back series triumphs, Slater is calmly pulling the strings, ready to promote bench forward Cotter into the starting side after his man-of-the-match heroics in Origin I.

The Cowboys workaholic superbly filled the void when back-rower Tom Gilbert was injured in the 18th minute of Origin, moving from the middle to the edge to post a game-high 48 tackles in Queensland’s 26-18 win.

Cotter has had stints in the back row at Queensland training and Slater left the door ajar for an eleventh-hour switch as the Maroons look to bury the Blues in the Suncorp cauldron and take an unassailable 2-0 lead.

“That’s an option for us,” Slater said when asked if Cotter will start.

Reuben Cotter could be thrust into a starting role for Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

“Jeremiah plays on that right edge, so he’s in some great touch. He has obviously had some time off, but the game he came back for (against Melbourne a fortnight ago), he had a lot of energy about his footy, so we have some options there.

“Reuben is quite versatile. I have seen Reuben play a bit of dummy-half (hooker), too.

“Given our last four games, we need those contingencies and we need those back-up plans.

“We lost two wingers in Game One, we lost two back-rowers in Game One.

“We had Dave Fifita and Ben Hunt playing in the centres for a period of time there.

“I have come to learn that you need a back-up plan and you need to think of everything.”

Now Slater is unwittingly getting inside Fittler’s head.

Billy Slater is getting inside Brad Fittler’s head. Picture: Getty Images

The Blues are considering a positional switch purely as a direct by-product of Slater picking Coates to replace Selwyn Cobbo on Queensland’s right flank.

Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has spent the past week cross-kicking for Coates and the skipper believes the former Broncos winger’s height can be a huge weapon that torments either To’o or Addo-Carr.

Slater believes Coates can be Queensland’s strike finisher in Origin II.

“He is big and fast,” he said.

“Xavier carries the ball well. He gets in good positions, he is a hard worker. I see him first-hand down in Melbourne (as Storm assistant coach).

“He has a great attitude and he is good under the high ball.

“Like all our players, we want to play to their strengths, so that’s up to the other 16 guys taking the field.”

Originally published as State of Origin: Queensland Maroons team news ahead of Game Two