NRL 2022: State of Origin late mail, QLD Maroons vs NSW Blues team news

Billy Slater is set to pull off a tactical switcheroo with winger Xavier Coates, while a teammate is struggling with the flu which has kept him sidelined for over a week.

The Maroons have named Harry Grant on the bench for Game I, as he battles with the flu and recovers from a groin injury. Picture: Getty Images.

Maroons flyer Xavier Coates will switch wings to ease the pressure on teenage debutant Selwyn Cobbo as Harry Grant prepares to enter Camp Maroon.

Coates will move to the left wing in next Wednesday’s series opener against NSW at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

That will allow Cobbo to remain on the right wing where he has been in sensational form for the Broncos over the past month.

While Coates prefers the right wing and plays there for Melbourne, he is comfortable on the left and his experience means he will make the shift.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

Xavier Coates is prepared to change wings to accomodate Selwyn Cobbo. Picture: Getty

The Maroons held their first training session on Tuesday morning at Broncos headquarters and the only player missing was Storm hooker Grant, who remained in Melbourne following a severe bout of influenza.

Grant was scheduled to fly north on Wednesday to join Camp Maroon and despite speculation that could be delayed, he is expected to join his teammates as planned.

Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster joked about the injury-prone Grant.

“He’s not playing, he’s broken down,” he said.

“He is only 24 but he’s like a 30-year-old man.

“Hopefully he will come into camp soon. He’s got the flu at the moment and we can’t afford to have that going around the group.”

Given his health and a groin injury, Grant has been named on the bench, with Ben Hunt to start at hooker.

Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden is on standby for Grant and will not be released to play in Thursday night’s NRL game against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Maroons held a lengthy first training session on Tuesday before heading into camp on the Gold Coast.

They will ramp up their preparations with heavy training sessions on Thursday and Saturday before lightening the load in the lead-up to Game One.

FLU HITS QUEENSLAND CAMP

- Peter Badel

Queensland coach Billy Slater is confident Harry Grant will be fit for Origin I despite the star Melbourne hooker being floored by the flu in the build-up to the series opener on Wednesday week.

Grant has a battle on dual fronts, with the classy rake also racing the clock to recover from a groin injury which saw him sidelined for the Storm’s 28-8 defeat of Manly last Thursday night.

Queensland have delayed Grant’s arrival in Camp Maroon to give him more time to rest at home in a bid to beat the flu, but Slater is confident the Melbourne ace will be on deck to face the Blues.

The Maroons have named Harry Grant on the bench for Game I, as he battles with the flu and recovers from a groin injury. Picture: Getty Images.

“We feel he will be OK to play,” Slater said.

“On top of that (his groin injury) he’s had the flu the last five days.

“It has knocked a few players in the game around for a week, so Harry will stay in Melbourne until Wednesday, then we will bring him up and hopefully he can hit the ground running on Thursday for us.”

Grant was expected to be Queensland’s starting hooker, but Slater pulled a minor selection shock, naming the Storm schemer on the bench and handing the No.9 jumper to Dragons halfback Ben Hunt.

Hunt was outstanding at hooker in Queensland’s 20-18 victory in Game Three last year and Slater explained his decision to stick with the Dragons halfback.

Harry Grant terrorised the Blues on debut coming off the bench and Billy Slater hopes he can repeat that in Game I. Picture: Getty Images.

“There’s a few reasons behind it (starting Hunt ahead of Grant),” Slater said.

“We feel Ben Hunt has earnt the opportunity to play in the No.9 jersey. He has been the Ron McAuliffe Medallist as Queensland’s best player for two series out of the last three years.

“We feel he has earnt that opportunity.

“The other thing is Harry is getting over his groin injury.”

Slater has vivid memories of Grant’s sublime display in the 2020 decider, when he came off the bench and terrorised NSW in a dream debut.

“That gives me confidence he can come on and impact the game,” Slater said.

“He was at his ultimate best that day, I know Harry really well and he will do a good job no matter when you put him on or where you put him.

“He is a real competitor and we have a luxury that we have some versatility with Ben Hunt, he covers a few different positions.”