State of Origin 2020: Wayne Bennett overhauls Maroons starting side

Queensland will run out against NSW with a vastly different looking team to what was originally named for the State of Origin decider.

Corey Allan will makes his Maroons debut at fullback. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Wayne Bennett has taken an axe to the Maroons, with the Queensland coach making a raft of changes ahead of Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

The Maroons will run out against NSW with a vastly different looking team to what was named late last week as Bennett looks to spark a boilover in Brisbane.

Bennett confirmed on Tuesday morning that South Sydney No. 1 Corey Allan would debut at fullback, with Valentine Holmes shifting to the wing to contain Blues weapon Josh Addo-Carr.

Winger Xavier Coates (groin) is out with Edrick Lee making his debut off the wing, while Brenko Lee will also make his Origin debut at left centre, replacing Kurt Capewell.

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Corey Allan will debut at fullback for the Maroons. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Lee’s cousin Brenko Lee will cap off a premiership-winning season with Melbourne by making his Origin debut at centre, replacing Kurt Capewell.

Capewell will shift to the left-edge back row position, moving Felise Kaufusi to the other side of the field and Jaydn Su’A to the bench. Prop Dunamis Lui will drop out of the 17.

The Queensland bench will consist of debutant hooker Harry Grant, Jai Arrow, Lindsay Collins and Su’A.

Bennett said Allan would be up to the test of debuting at fullback in an Origin decider.

“It’s obviously a big test, he answered all that with us in the last two years at Souths,” he said.

Brenko Lee Brenko Lee will make his Origin debut at left centre. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“He was on the wing and handled it well, then he came into fullback when Latrell (Mitchell) got injured and he did a good job there.

“He has got his confidence and he is as good an option as we have got with all the injuries. I am confident in Corey.”

Bennett said he was excited to see what Grant could bring in his Origin debut, where he will relieve starting hooker Jake Friend after the opening exchanges.

“He is a bit like Corey Allan, they get an opportunity and Harry has shown like Corey he can match at club level so I am sure he will match it out here tomorrow night,” Bennett said.

“He has that type of breeding in him, he is a tearaway guy, he tries hard, I like the qualities I see in him.”

ROOKIE’S DREAM DASHED AS BLUES LINE-UP CONFIRMED

By Nick Walshaw

Ryan Papenhuyzen’s dream of a State of Origin debut has been dashed — for the time being — as NSW coach Brad Fittler confirmed he would go into Wednesday night’s series decider with an unchanged line-up.

It comes as five-eighth Luke Keary has departed the Blues camp after being overlooked for the final clash of the series.

Speaking after the Blues Monday training session on the Central Coast, Fittler said that while he was “excited” to see the 22-year-old Melbourne livewire play Origin, it would not be in the Suncorp Stadium decider.

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After a breakout season with the 2020 NRL premiers, Papenhuyzen was named on an extended Blues bench for Wednesday night’s clash with Queensland.

But Fittler confirmed his loyalty to the players who delivered NSW a 34-10 win in game two in Sydney last week.

Asked if the decision was a tough one, Fittler replied: “Absolutely.

“There’s a lot of thought that went into it.

“But if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

“It was purely on that basis.

“And what a shame, you know? I was so excited to watch Ryan play.

“But it’s not going to be long until he does.”

Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to miss out on a Blues debut. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Fittler added that NSW would be as named, one through 17, for the decider.

He said a big part of his decision was remaining loyal to those players who had done the job for NSW in Origin II.

Fittler pointed out that all his players brought something to the win, while also hinting that had Papenhuyzen come in, interchange forward Nathan Brown would have likely been the one to miss out.

“They’ve all got different parts to their games and they brought them all,” Fittler said. “The things that Browny did — he was obviously part of that (Papenhuyzen) discussion — there were things he did that we really appreciated. So that’s it.”

The Blues on Monday continued their preparations for Origin III, where they will be hoping to make it three consecutive series victories.

The Blues went with a four-forward interchange bench in game two that consisted of Dale Finucane, Junior Paulo, Nathan Brown and Isaah Yeo that left critics questioning NSW’s ability to provide injury cover for the likes of hooker Damien Cook.

Papenhuyzen, five-eighth Jarome Luai, hooker/lock Cameron McInnes and outside back Nick Cotric were named on the Blues’ extended bench.

Cotric would be the only potential change to the Blues’ line-up, if winger Josh Addo-Carr was unable to overcome a toe injury in time for the Suncorp Stadium clash.

However, the Foxx trained on Monday at Wyong without incident.

Meanwhile Keary, who missed selection in the 21-man squad, has been given permission to leave the Blues bubble.

NSW Blues: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Clint Gutherson, 4 Jack Wighton, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Daniel Saifiti, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Payne Haas, 11 Angus Crichton, 12 Tyson Frizell, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14 Dale Finucane, 15 Junior Paulo, 16 Nathan Brown, 17 Isaah Yeo. Reserves: 18 Ryan Papenhuyzen, 19 Jarome Luai, 20 Cameron McInnes, 21 Nick Cotric.

Originally published as State of Origin 2020: Wayne Bennett overhauls Maroons starting side