Nate Myles is out of Origin game two; Jacob Lillyman, Gavin Cooper named

WITH Manly prop Nate Myles ruled out, Maroons coach Kevin Walters has named his squad for Origin II, warning “We have everything to lose”.

KEVIN Walters has thrown down the gauntlet to his Maroons players with a blunt reality check, “We have everything to lose”.

The Maroons can earn their 10th series win in 11 years at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday but Walters said the fact his side were raging favourites presented its own challenges.

The always honest Walters isn’t even attempting to play the underdog card.

Jacob Lillyman makes his return to the Queensland team.

Queensland will be without forward leader Nate Myles who is booked in for surgery on his troublesome knee, which flared in Manly’s loss to Penrith.

The Maroons have recalled Warriors’ veteran Jacob Lillyman in his place and it is expected Broncos prop Josh McGuire will start for the Maroons.

The team is otherwise unchanged from their 6-4 victory over the Blues in game one.

What will change for game two is the nature of the contest with Laurie Daley needing a boil over to keep the series alive, which should bring about an increased desire to attack.

“They have nothing to lose coming up to Suncorp and we have everything to lose,” Walters said.

“They are a dangerous side and they won’t have any concerns coming up here.

“It will be up to our players and coaching staff to make sure when they get out there on Wednesday they give the performance of their lives.”

Queensland faltered in game two last year when they were heavy favourites to win in Melbourne but the Blues’ backs starred in a 26-18 victory.

Nate Myles hasn’t been in great form but his experience will be a loss.

Walters said he expected Daley to unleash his team’s attacking potential, which he is prepared to meet head-on.

“I think they will (attack) and I think we need to move in that direction too because we have some pretty good players in our group,” Walters said.

“NSW were very good defensively but could have come up with one or two more tries as well (in Game One).”

Walters said Myles would play for Queensland again and Cameron Smith said he hoped the veteran was fit for Game Three at ANZ Stadium.

“Let’s hope Nate is fit for game three,” Smith said. “Nate plays with a lot of aggression. He always gets our team away to a good start.”

Walters said he considered using Cowboys forward Gavin Cooper to replace Myles but Lillyman’s series last year meant he deserved the role.

“We like to reward those who have done the job in the past,” Walters said. “I haven’t seen Jake play a bad game for Queensland.

“It is sad that Nate is not playing but it was hard to leave Jake out of game one. He was one of our top three players in last year’s game three. Nate couldn’t recover in time for game two but we are hopeful he will recover in time for game three.”

GAME TWO MAROONS TEAM: 1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin O’Neill, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Josh McGuire, 11. Sam Thaiday, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker.

INT: Michael Morgan, Josh Papalii, Aidan Guerra, Jacob Lillyman, Gavin Cooper.

Originally published as Nate Myles is out of Origin game two; Jacob Lillyman, Gavin Cooper named