State of Origin 2024: Queensland Maroons Game 2 team to take on NSW Blues in Melbourne

Queensland coach Billy Slater is set to take a settled squad to Melbourne as the Maroons look to seal their third straight series victory. See the likely Game 2 side.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Walsh. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Maroons have received a huge boost with superstar fullback Reece Walsh set to be cleared of concussion by Queensland doctors and declared a certain starter in Origin II.

While the embattled Blues are in disarray, wielding the axe yet again in the wake of their 38-10 loss in Game One, Queensland are in a state of calm after coach Billy Slater backed Walsh to play in Origin II on Wednesday week.

The Maroons are set to make just one change to the side which flogged the Blues in Sydney with Origin I debutant J’maine Hopgood battling a back injury, opening the door for Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi.

Kaufusi, 18th man in the series opener, was activated to play after Walsh lasted just seven minutes of Origin I and he is tipped to replace Hopgood on the bench.

Walsh was badly concussed in Origin I after a sickening high shot from NSW rookie Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and he subsequently missed two club games for the Broncos under the NRL’s mandatory 11-day stand-down protocol.

That period officially ended on Sunday night, representing the perfect timing for Maroons coach Slater, who will formally unveil his squad for Origin II on Monday morning.

This masthead can reveal Walsh will be chosen by Slater with a view to the Maroons custodian being formally assessed for a final medical clearance.

Walsh’s doctor at the Broncos, Matt Hislop, is also a medico in Camp Maroon and it’s understood Queensland hierarchy are confident the flying fullback will have no problems passing cognitive testing.

While he didn’t train with the Broncos at their captain’s run last Thursday, Walsh looked in good spirits as he did some light running at Red Hill and he is itching for a crack at the Blues in Origin II.

Slater has a history of overlooking players who aren’t fully fit for the start of camp, but Broncos coach Kevin Walters assured the Maroons mentor Walsh is ready to rumble at the MCG.

“He will be back for Billy in Origin (II),” Walters said.

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans with Reece Walsh after Game 1. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Reece was unavailable to play (against Souths last Friday night) and I’m very comfortable with that. We care about our players at the Broncos and we want to do the right thing medically for them.

“I would say Reece’s last seven minutes were enough in Origin I to suggest he will be there for Origin II.

“Of course Billy will select him.

“Reece is good. He is doing all the protocols with the HIAs (Head Injury Assessments) and he will be fine to go for Origin II.”

Walsh’s selection spells trouble for NSW.

Slater had a plan to unleash Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo on the Blues in the series opener, but that collapsed when his Maroons fullback was taken out by Suaalii.

Now Slater gets the chance to deploy his three-way attacking blitz as Queensland look to claim a hat-trick of Origin titles by taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Melbourne.

“I know how hard Reece worked to prepare for the game (Origin I),” Slater said.

“He was really clear about what his footy and game looked like and was ready to go after it.

J'maine Hopgood is set to overcome a niggling back injury. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“That was the most disappointing thing that was taken away from him, but I’m sure he will get another chance.”

Parramatta lock Hopgood missed Saturday night’s loss to the Roosters with a back complaint and Slater is reluctant to take risks with an injured player.

The scratching of Hopgood presents a golden opportunity for Kaufusi, who missed the entire 2023 series but is celebrating a Maroons renaissance at age 32 on the back of inspirational form for the Dolphins.

Kaufusi and Ben Hunt are the sole survivors of Queensland’s last game at the MCG in 2018 _ a ground at which the Maroons have a dismal record.

They have lost four of five Origin contests at the hallowed ground - their sole win was 29 years ago - and Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is wary of a NSW side buoyed by the recall of Queensland bogeyman Latrell Mitchell.

The South Sydney superstar hasn’t played for the Blues due to injury since carving up Queensland in NSW’s 2021 series win.

“It’s Origin, it’s going to be hard no matter where we play,” Cherry-Evans said of Queensland’s MCG hoodoo.

“We know the desperation that comes out in a side that is 1-0 down.

“We will be aware of that, but we also have to refine our game.

“There’s improvement in both sides.

“Because we lost Reece, there was stuff that we didn’t get to show that we want to show in Origin II.

“The quality naturally goes up in each game of the series and we’re hoping to do that.”