State of Origin 2024 team selector: Pick your NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons sides, injury carnage causing headaches for Billy Slater and Michael Maguire
Injury carnage is causing chaos for Origin coaches Billy Slater and Michael Maguire. How will they deal with dwindling player stocks? Enter your selections and compare them with the experts.
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With Game 1 of the 2024 State of Origin series a few weeks away, it’s time to put on your selectors hat and choose the Queensland and NSW 17s you want to see run out onto Accor Stadium.
The Maroons have been hit with key outs upfront in Cameron Munster (groin, series), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (knee, season), Thomas Flegler (shoulder, indefinite but could play) and Tom Gilbert (knee, season).
There’s trouble in the backs too with Kalyn Ponga (foot, rd 22 at the earliest) unavailable; while coach Billy Slater will be devastated to lose someone of Ponga’s caliber, it does make his decision to pick Reece Walsh at fullback an easier one.
BELOW: PICK YOUR 2024 STATE OF ORIGIN TEAMS AHEAD OF GAME I
At the Blues, Nathan Cleary will miss at least the first game of the series and Tom Trbojevic will miss all three games.
Mitch Moses, who starred at No. 7 in Game II last year is battling a foot injury and unlikely to play. Cleary’s regular halves partner, Jarome Luai, is doing his thing, and is one of the options to partner Nicho Hynes in the halves. Periphery players such as Bradman Best and Connor Watson have also been ruled out.
Elsewhere, NSW have lost workhorse Cameron Murray to a hip complaint, opening the door for a recall for Angus Crichton.
Fullback James Tedesco is likely to be back in his favoured position, but Penrith star Dylan Edwards is breathing down his neck.
NOTE: selection availability subject to change through injury, suspension, or other circumstances.
Originally published as State of Origin 2024 team selector: Pick your NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons sides, injury carnage causing headaches for Billy Slater and Michael Maguire
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