Bati’s Tariq Sims started for Blues in Game One
Fiji Bati extended squad was named in the starting lineup for the New South Wales Blues in game One of the State of Origin.
The game was played at Accor Stadium, Sydney, at 10pm last night after this edition went to press.
The starting 13 contains eight players who featured in Game Three of last year’s series - Tedesco, Brian To’o, Wighton, Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Junior Paulo, Sims and Damien Cook.
James Tedesco will captain a Blues side which includes debutants Ryan Matterson, Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton in the 17 and three more (Joseph Suaalii, Nicho Hynes and Jacob Saifiti) in the extended squad. Suaalii and Saifiti were cut on Tuesday when the squad was cut to 19 and Hynes is 18th man. Tyson Frizell remains in the squad as reserve.
Staggs will partner Canberra’s Jack Wighton in a new-look centre pairing while Roosters flyer Daniel Tupou as earned a recall on the wing after missing last year’s series. Eels enforcer Reagan Campbell-Gillard will play his first Origin since 2018.
Queensland
Billy Slater’s first Origin squad as coach features four debutants - Cowboys duo Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai along with Broncos Patrick Carrigan and Selwyn Cobbo. Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans will skipper the side for the 10th consecutive time and is surrounded by familiar faces in the backline with Kalyn Ponga, Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai, Xavier Coates and Cameron Munster all back on deck after playing in Game Three last year.
Ben Hunt has been named to start at hooker with Harry Grant on the bench, although the Storm No.9 could well end up playing more minutes than the Dragons skipper. After missing last year’s series with injury, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins returns to the side and is named on the bench. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui moves to prop to replace Christian Welch, who is out with a season-ending achilles injury.
No changes to the squad when it was trimmed to 19 players on Tuesday with Tom Dearden 18th man and Jai Arrow the reserve. Thomas Flegler, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Murray Taulagi were the players omitted.