State of Origin Queensland Maroons selection news: Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai recalled

Kalyn Ponga is back and he’s joined by Dane Gagai as Billy Slater unveiled his Queensland team for the State of Origin decider — but there’s no room for David Fifita.

Newcastle’s dynamic duo Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai have made a triumphant return to the Maroons - two years after the pair inspired Queensland’s last win in a Suncorp Origin decider.

On a day of drama for the Maroons, Queensland coach Billy Slater lost in-form winger Murray Taulagi to injury, just hours before recalling Ponga and Gagai for Origin III at Suncorp on Wednesday week.

In other major selection news ahead of the official team announcement on Monday:

* It is understood Selwyn Cobbo, a shock omission for Origin II, has been recalled on the wing;

* Valentine Holmes will partner Cobbo on the wing after being shifted to accommodate Gagai at centre;

* In-form Titans back-rower David Fifita has been snubbed again;

* Dragons hitman Jaydn Su’A has been dropped, with Kurt Capewell set to start;

* Veteran Raiders prop Josh Papalii has been overlooked; and

* Reed Mahoney is on standby for the injured Harry Grant.

Taulagi, one of Queensland’s best players in the opening two Origin games, injured his hamstring in North Queensland’s 21-20 extra-time loss to Manly on Saturday night.

The Taulagi setback cemented the selection of comeback kid Gagai, Queensland’s Origin specialist whose Maroons career appeared over following his axing for last year’s series.

The Knights veteran has been chosen at right centre ahead of Holmes, who was set to be axed completely, only to get a reprieve on the wing after his clubmate Taulagi broke down in Townsville.

Gagai sealed his stunning Queensland resurrection by carving up the Raiders, scoring two tries and amassing 22 runs, 158 metres, two line breaks and two tackle busts in Newcastle’s gutsy 16-12 away win.

Murray Taulagi. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

He will be joined in Camp Maroons by his Knights skipper Ponga, who showed no ill-effects from a seven-week layoff from a foot injury as he terrorised the Green Machine with 196 metres and nine tackle busts.

Gagai is one of Queensland’s great servants. The 33-year-old has scored 12 tries from 22 Origin games, including a hat-trick and two doubles, and will form a centre combination with speed demon Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Gagai was 18th man for Origin II and coach Slater was almost prophetic in his pre-game assessment when he said the 282-NRL stalwart was not far away from a Maroons recall.

“It was a phone call that was enjoyable,” Slater said of Gagai’s squad selection for Game Two.

“For him to take it (his axing in 2023) like a true Queenslander ... I have no doubt Dane will be wearing a Maroons jumper again in the future.”

The selection of Gagai’s clubmate Ponga represents a nightmare for the Blues, who were on the receiving end of a ‘KP’ masterclass which propelled Queensland to Origin glory two years ago.

In his seventh and most recent game for Queensland, Ponga ran riot in the 2022 Suncorp decider, amassing 247 metres, 15 tackle busts, two line breaks and scoring a try to engineer the Maroons’ 22-12 epic victory.

Kalyn Ponga (C) will start from the bench. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Ponga was not considered for last year’s series due to his concussion battle, but Slater always had him in his plans for the 2024 campaign before injury struck.

It is understood the 26-year-old is set to be deployed off the bench as an interchange strike weapon, similar to Cobbo’s game-changing impact in Queensland’s 38-10 win in Origin II.

Slater has resisted major changes, with Su’A the only forward casualty from the MCG massacre, with Harry Grant, Felise Kaufusi and Mo Fotuaika retained on the bench alongside new addition Ponga.

Canterbury menace Reed Mahoney has been rewarded for his outstanding form by being included in the Maroons extended squad.

Mahoney will join the Maroons camp and act as cover for hooker Harry Grant, who has been battling a sternum injury.