Billy Slater has been ruled out of Game 1 in Melbourne with a hamstring injury. Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga and Brisbane five-eighth Anthony Milford are being flown to Melbourne, with utility Michael Morgan likely to start in place of Slater and one of the new duo to take Morgan’s place on the bench.
It will be the first time since Game 2, 2003 that Queensland have gone into an Origin match without any of Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.
It had earlier been revealed that 2018 will be Slater’s last year in a Maroon jersey, with the veteran fullback to retire from representative footy at the end of the season.
The Blues have named 11 debutants in an attempt to freshen up a side which has lost 11 of the last 12 series, while many of Queensland’s new faces are the result of the representative retirements of Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.
New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons:
Maroons Game 1 squad:
1. Billy Slater, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Greg Inglis (C), 4. Will Chambers, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Dylan Napa, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Jarrod Wallace, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Josh McGuire.
Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Coen Hess, 17. Jai Arrow.
Blues Game 1 squad:
1. James Tedesco, 2. Tom Trbojevic, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. James Roberts, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. James Maloney, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Tyson Frizell, 13. Jack de Belin.
Interchange: 14. Paul Vaughan, 15. Jake Trbojevic, 16. Angus Crichton, 17. Tyrone Peachey.
18th man: Tariq Sims
19th man: Nick Cotric
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