SLATER CALLS UP ANOTHER COWBOY FOR MAROONS
QUEENSLAND coach Billy Slater will blood another rookie with hulking Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi to make his Origin debut as the Maroons look to bury the Blues next Sunday night.
News Corp understands Taulagi has edged out Broncos veteran Corey Oates and Cowboys teammate Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to replace the injured Xavier Coates on the left wing for the return bout at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow has been recalled to the Queensland side to replace Taulagi’s Cowboys teammate Reuben Cotter, who injured his hamstring in the warm-up in Friday night’s miracle win over Manly.
Queensland’s Game One bench sensation Pat Carrigan was tipped to be promoted for Origin II, but Slater is considering thrusting Arrow straight into the starting side to replace Cotter in the No.13 jumper.
While Cotter could miss the rest of the series, the Cowboys have another new Maroon in Taulagi.
The 23-year-old has been a revelation for the Cowboys this season, scoring nine tries from 14 games, and has impressed Slater with his 103kg frame, finishing ability and defensive reads.
Slater was also looking closely at Tabuai-Fidow, who debuted for Queensland last year, only for ‘The Hammer’ to suffer a head knock against Manly on Friday night. The Queensland team for Origin II will be named on Monday and Cowboys coach Todd Payten believes Taulagi is ready for the code’s toughest arena.
“Muzz is doing great things for us,” he said following the Cowboys’ 28-26 comeback against Manly.
“He has taken his game to a new level and is playing really confidently. Muzz is a big body who is strong out of his own end.
“Hammer (Tabuai-Fidow) is more about guile, finesse and speed.They are both good in the air, try-scorers and are both really good players.”
Slater is expected to make only one other change to his winning 17-man squad, with Arrow to put the disappointment of his Origin axing last year when he returns for Game Two.
Arrow was banished from Camp Maroon in the lead-up to last year’s dead-rubber following a breach of Covid protocols.
He was overlooked for selection by Slater for this year’s series-opener, won 1610 by Queensland in Sydney, although he was a member of the Maroons’ extended squad.
While Carrigan will battle it out with Arrow for a starting spot in the Queensland team, his Broncos clubmate Kotoni Staggs is set to be axed from the Blues line-up for Origin II.
Staggs was well contained in Game One and his night ended early when he suffered a shoulder injury.