State of Origin Game 1 teams: NSW, Qld selection chaos amid injury carnage

NSW’s State of Origin squad has been rocked by injury carnage, with two of their best players suddenly in doubt for the series opener.

Matthew Sullivan

4 min read

May 18, 2025 - 9:33PM

Injury concerns for Pat Carrigan ahead of Origin 1

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Both NSW and Queensland are facing the prospect of being without some superstar players with team selection for the series opener rocked by injury carnage.

NSW officially named their squad for Game 1 on Sunday night, with coach Laurie Daley opting for Mitchell Moses over Jarome Luai at five-eighth and naming Bulldogs forward Max King on the bench for a potential debut.

Dylan Edwards edged out James Tedesco for fullback, and Payne Haas and Stephen Crichton have been named despite injury concerns. Panthers lock Isaah Yeo has been named NSW captain.

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Moses was brilliant in NSW’s Game 3 victory in Brisbane last year and he will partner halfback Nathan Cleary in a combination the Blues hope will prove lethal against Queensland.

But of greater concern for NSW is the news Haas suffered a quad injury in Brisbane’s 30-26 loss to the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.

Haas nearly singlehandedly dragged the Broncos over the line in the dying stages, coming inches away from scoring a matchwinning try.

Haas is being examined by Brisbane’s medical staff and will undergo scans — the superstar prop is considered a 50/50 chance to play in Game 1.

Payne Haas is in doubt for Origin Game 1 with a quad injury. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Bulldogs forward in frame for NSW debut

According to Code Sports, NSW’s coaching staff were “rocked” by the news of Haas’ shock injury blow, which will be under scrutiny all week before the series opener on May 28 at Suncorp Stadium.

Stefano Utoikamanu looms as a possible replacement for Haas if he is ruled out, while Bulldogs forward Max King is also a genuine chance to make his NSW debut after being called into the squad.

Haas has been the best forward in the NRL in recent years and his match-up against Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was greatly anticipated with the Titans star returning to Queensland’s line-up after missing last year’s series with an ACL injury.

Haas is the third potential Blues forward who has been injured this week following Jacob Saifiti (calf) and Jake Trbojevic (concussion).

Bulldogs forward Max King is a chance to make his NSW debut. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

NSW back-up on standby for Crichton

Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham is on standby for Stephen Crichton, who is managing a groin complaint.

Crichton missed Bulldogs training but played the whole 80 minutes in Cantebury’s win over the Roosters on Friday.

Stephen Crichton is managing a groin issue. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Roosters young gun a Maroons bolter

Roosters rookie centre Robert Toia has shot into contention for an Origin debut, named in Queensland’s squad despite having just 10 NRL matches to his name.

Toia, 20, is a bolter for Game 1 given the injuries to Murray Taulagi and Selwyn Cobbo.

Bulldogs forward Kurt Mann is in the Maroons squad and a chance of an Origin debut at age 32 on the back of Canterbury’s strong NRL form.

Dolphins forward Tom Gilbert was ruled out selection after suffering a pectoral injury on Saturday.

Kurt Mann is set for a debut at age 32.

Robert Toia of the Roosters is in Queensland’s squad. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Queensland rocked by injuries, set to name debutants

Billy Slater has some selection headaches as several Queensland stars copped injuries over the weekend.

Murray Taulagi won’t play in Game 1 after suffering a calf injury in North Queensland’s loss to Manly in Townsville on Saturday.

In another blow, Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo also sustained a wrist injury on Sunday, meaning Slater could be without two star options to select on the wing.

In other injury news, Maroons forward Pat Carrigan was bleeding from a busted lip and was seen holding his jaw during Brisbane’s loss to the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.

Carrigan is set to see a plastic surgeon to get his lip patched up.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire said he expected both Carrigan and Cobbo to pull up fine.

“They’re OK. Patty just had a bit of a split in his mouth,” Maguire said.

Storm and Queensland star Cameron Munster told Fox League: “It doesn’t look ideal for Patty, holding his jaw. Hopefully it’s just a split lip for Queensland but it doesn’t look ideal.”

The SMH reports Cobbo will undergo scans on Monday amid concerns about a potential wrist fracture, with Broncos winger Jesse Arthars in calculations to come into Queensland’s squad.

Pat Carrigan will see a plastic surgeon to repair his busted lip.

Who missed out for NSW?

Jake Trbojevic’s concussion in Manly’s win over the Cowboys effectively ruled him out of selection.

His brother Tom Trbojevic has also missed out, on a spot in the squad after speculation the Manly superstar was an option on the wing, centres or as a utility.

Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuzyen is another high profile snub — he’s yet to play a game for NSW in his rugby league career.

Terrell May said last week on social media he hadn’t been picked for NSW despite his stellar form for the Tigers, but the injury cloud over Haas could give May a lifeline.

May jumped the gun and revealed the shock news on his Twitch live stream — on Sunday night he was confirmed as the most notable omission for Laurie Daley’s team sheet.

Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi can also consider himself unlucky to be overlooked following excellent form in recent weeks.

NSW Blues squad for State of Origin Game 1

1. Dylan Edwards

2. Brian To’o

3. Stephen Crichton

4. Latrell Mitchell

5. Zac Lomax

6. Mitch Moses

7. Nathan Cleary

8. Mitchell Barnett

9. Reece Robson

10. Payne Haas