State of Origin 2020: Queensland and NSW name sides for game one
Wayne Bennett has hit back at Queensland’s detractors as the super coach unveiled eight debutants for Origin I.
Wayne Bennett has hit back at Queensland’s detractors as the super coach unveiled eight debutants for Origin I – including Maroons backline bolters Xavier Coates, Phillip Sami and Brenko Lee.
Bennett has released his 21-man squad for the series opener, presiding over Queensland’s biggest selection shake-up in two decades as he turns to a posse of uncapped rookies to ignite the injury-ravaged Maroons.
The eight new faces for game one at Adelaide Oval next Wednesday night are AJ Brimson, Jake Friend, Lindsay Collins, Jaydn Su’A, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lee, Coates and Sami.
Features of the new-look Queensland team aiming to snap NSW’s quest for a third consecutive series win include:
There are four new faces in the backline headlined by Brimson at fullback, Storm giant Lee (centre) and debutant wingers Coates and Sami. Roosters hooker Friend has edged out Ben Hunt and Harry Grant for the hooking spot while out-of-form Cowboy Coen Hess has come from the clouds to win a starting spot in the backrow. Storm monster Fa’asuamaleuai will start side at lock.
The other debutants Roosters bruiser Collins and Rabbitohs second-rower Su’A will start from the bench.
For the Blues, coach Brad Fittler has named James Tedesco at fullback but he faces a fitness test on an injured knee, while Clive Churcill Medal winner Ryan Papenhuyzen has missed out on a bench spot through a calf injury sustained in Melbourne’s grand final win.
The fullback injury curse had already claimed Tom Trbojevic for the series, meaning a start for Dally M Fullback of the Year Clint Gutherson at right centre.
Elsewhere Roosters flyer Daniel Tupou earns his first Origin start in five years, Eels wrecking ball Junior Paulo joins Daniel Saifiti in the front row and Reagan Campbell-Gillard misses out on the 17.
Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary will make his Origin debut after edging out Souths playmaker Cody Walker for the No 6 jersey.
Angus Crichton, Payne Haas, Cameron Murray and Walker make up the Blues bench.
In a boost for the Maroons, star pivot Cameron Munster has been declared a certain starter despite a knee injury which prompted bookmakers to all-but write off Queensland’s hopes of winning the series.
But a defiant Bennett has come out swinging, scoffing at suggestions the Maroons will be humiliated 3-0 by the Blues as he pointed to the courage of Munster as a sign of Queensland’s never-say-die spririt.
“I thought he might miss the series,” Bennett said of Munster, who injured his knee for a third time in the opening week of the NRL finals.
“I didn’t think he would finish the season, but he has defied all that and here he is.
“Munster is determined to play and that says a lot to me about what this Queensland team believes in.
“Cam is so important to us. I was really pleased he turned up for this camp.
“He has struggled with his knee injury, but I valued what he and the other grand final guys have done.
“They want to be part of this series and that says a lot of about the confidence of our group.”
Of the Storm’s five Queensland players, only Fa’asuamaleaui completed Thursday’s entire session, still fresh after playing 17 minutes in the grand final.
Munster, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Lee did some light running and stretching after entering camp on Wednesday night following three heavy days of premiership celebrations.
Bookies have installed Queensland as rank outsiders at $3.10 to deny NSW a third consecutive series win, but Bennett is relishing the underdog tag that has motivated the Maroons for decades.
“I love perception, they can say what they want about us,” he said.
“What the critics or NSW want to say has no relevance to me.
“If Munster wasn’t confident of beating NSW, he could have used any excuse not to be here this week.
“We have a good team of people here who understand Queensland and can relate to Queensland.”
Penrith utility Kurt Capewell has been named 18th man, with Moeaki Fotuaika, Dunamis Lui and Hymel Hunt the remaining members of Queensland’s 21-man squad.
QUEENSLAND TEAM: AJ Brimson, Xavier Coates, Brenko Lee, Dane Gagai, Phillip Sami, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans (c), Christian Welch, Jake Friend, Josh Papalii, Felise Kaufusi, Coen Hess, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Bench: Ben Hunt, Lindsay Collins, Jai Arrow, Jaydn Su’A. Others: Kurt Capewell, Moeaki Fotuaika, Dunamis Lui, Hymel Hunt.
NSW BLUES: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Jack Wighton 4. Clint Gutherson* 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Luke Keary* 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Damien Cook 10. Junior Paulo* 11. Boyd Cordner (c) 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Jake Trbojevic Interchange: 14. Cody Walker, 15. Payne Haas. 16. Cameron Murray 17. Angus Crichton
* debutants
Courier-Mail, Fox Sports
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