State of Origin 2023, Queensland Maroons team announcement for Game Two, team lists, injuries, changes and details for Origin II

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Mon 12 Jun 2023, 02:50 PM

The return of Queensland's breakout player from 2022 is among a handful of changes in coach Billy Slater's 19-man squad named for Game Two of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series.

After missing Queensland's 26-18 victory in Origin I in Adelaide due to suspension, Nanai returns to the side in the second row as replacement for Tom Gilbert who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the series opener.

Despite the Cowboys forward having played just once since Round 9 – returning for North Queensland's win against the Storm in Round 14 – Slater is confident Nanai will be ready for the rigours of Origin.

“Firstly, he played all three games last year, Jeremiah, and was outstanding," Slater said.

“He had a great year last year and I think the thing that gave me confidence in Jeremiah coming back into the team is, he did come back from suspension and I felt that was probably the most energy he’s had in his footy all year.

“It looked like the Jeremiah of last year and he’s obviously worked really hard through that period that he was off and he’s another guy that’s earned this opportunity.

“He’s a Queenslander, and he’s done the job before and he played really well on the weekend."

Along with Gilbert, Jai Arrow (ankle) and Selwyn Cobbo (hip pointer) are also out, with Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika and Storm winger Xavier Coates called into the side.

Fotuaika is joined in the squad by Titans teammate AJ Brimson, who will feature as 18th Man, with Tom Dearden returning to club commitments with the Cowboys, while Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh joins the side as 19th Man.

For Coates, it will be his first Origin game since the opening match of the 2022 series in Sydney, where he was unfortunately ruled out with injury.

Game 2 - Game 2 - Wednesday 21 Jun

Full Time

Maroons

Blues

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Reece Walsh

Fullback for Blues is number 1 James Tedesco
Winger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates

Winger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'o
Centre for Maroons is number 3 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Blues is number 3 Stephen Crichton
Centre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Centre for Blues is number 4 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Maroons is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Blues is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Blues is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

Prop for Maroons is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Prop for Blues is number 8 Junior Paulo
Hooker for Maroons is number 9 Ben Hunt

Hooker for Blues is number 17 Reece Robson
Prop for Maroons is number 15 Thomas Flegler

Prop for Blues is number 10 Payne Haas
2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 David Fifita

2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Maroons is number 16 Reuben Cotter

2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Hudson Young
Lock for Maroons is number 13 Patrick Carrigan

Lock for Blues is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Maroons is number 8 Lindsay Collins

Interchange for Blues is number 9 Damien Cook
Interchange for Maroons is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

Interchange for Blues is number 14 Stefano Utoikamanu
Interchange for Maroons is number 14 Harry Grant

Interchange for Blues is number 15 Cameron Murray
Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Moeaki Fotuaika

Interchange for Blues is number 16 Liam Martin