Origin Late Mail: Strange proves fitness
Canterbury playmaker Matt Burton will leave Blues camp after Ethan Strange proved he had overcome an ankle injury.
Earlier in camp, the Raiders star rolled his ankle during the team's training session at Cbus Super Stadium and was later spotted in a boot, with the Bulldogs' bye allowing Burton to join the team in camp as cover.
With Strange making it through the team's session at Ballymore on Monday, Burton will return home to Sydney.
Strange's injury marks the second time this series Burton was rushed into the NSW camp after he joined the side when Mitchell Moses injured his hamstring just two days before Game One.
Moses' injury saw Strange promoted to the starting side, with Burton added to the bench and injected into the fray in the dying minutes of a historic comeback.
The Blues have now suffered training injuries before all three matches with Casey McLean injuring his quad prior to Game Two and forced to miss the clash at the MCG.
The Origin shield will go on the line in front of a sell-out crowd, with Queensland desperate to ensure history repeats after levelling the series in Melbourne.
Billy Slater's men dropped Game One in 2025 before going on to win the final two matches of the series and they will look to follow the same path this year.
In good news for the Maroons side, forward Pat Carrigan completed the entire opposed session against the Gold Coast Titans on Thursday.
The Broncos and Kangaroos representative was picked by Slater to take his place in the Maroons line-up despite missing the past few weeks of football with an ankle injury.
“It was good, ticked off a lot of boxes and I had a good hit out against the Titans boys," Carrigan said.
“I feel really healthy and ready to go.
“A couple key things to go, but I feel good.
“I'm 100% ready to go.
“Did all the sessions today, felt really confident and I'll have another run on the weekend, so it's all about me nailing my job and it's nice to be in a position to be able to play.
“I'm well aware that I've got to perform on next Wednesday, so that's where my focus is.
“Obviously, I'm four-weeks off the op, so there's a few things I need to get right, but it's all in terms of just making sure I'm ready to train at my best and be at my best for the boys."
Elsewhere, halfback Sam Walker has made a smooth transition to the Origin arena and steered the Maroons to a dominant victory at the MCG.
The young playmaker has formed an attacking combination with five-eighth Cam Munster, the pair unlocking a star-studded backline.
Selwyn Cobbo is in career-best form, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is a proven performer at Origin level and Kalyn Ponga provides an additional playmaking threat for the Blues defence.
NSW are licking their wounds after a bruising loss in Melbourne, with coach Laurie Daley making a host of changes in a bid to spring an upset in Brisbane.
Jack Bostock has been named to make his Origin debut on the wing, while veteran Liam Martin is back on deck and sure to get under the skin of the Queenslanders.
The match looms as one of the biggest of halfback Nathan Cleary's career, the playmaker yet to win a decider and desperate to deliver in the game's biggest stage.
Team News
Maroons: Queensland coach Billy Slater has the luxury of stability after a dominant victory in Game Two. The Maroons will field the same backline for the decider but there have been a handful of changes up front. Pat Carrigan shapes as a big inclusion and is on track to line up after recovering from an ankle injury that forced him out of the second match of the series. Lindsay Collins will miss the match after suffering a head knock for the Roosters last week, with Corey Horsburgh and Jeremiah Nanai the other new faces in the squad.
Blues: Matt Burton will join the Blues in Kingscliff as they continue to monitor Ethan Strange's injured ankle. The bench utility picked up the injury at training on Thursday morning, with Burton to come into the side if Strange is ruled out. Laurie Daley has shaken things up as the Blues look to rebound in the decider. Jack Bostock will make his debut on the wing in a new-look backline, with centres Bradman Best and Stephen Crichton also coming into the side. Mitchell Moses retains his place at five-eighth and Strange has again been named on the six-man bench. Proven performer Liam Martin will start in the back-row in place of Dylan Lucas, while Haumole Olakau'atu comes on to the six-man bench after missing selection for Game Two. Victor Radley reverts to 20th man as a result. The final change sees Blayke Brailey return to the interchange after missing the MCG clash due to a broken arm.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Blues is number 1 James Tedesco
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Winger for Maroons is number 2 Selwyn CobboWinger for Blues is number 2 Jack Bostock
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Centre for Maroons is number 3 Robert ToiaCentre for Blues is number 3 Bradman Best
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Centre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowCentre for Blues is number 4 Stephen Crichton
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Winger for Maroons is number 5 Jojo FifitaWinger for Blues is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
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Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Mitchell Moses
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Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Sam WalkerHalfback for Blues is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Maroons is number 8 Thomas FleglerProp for Blues is number 8 Payne Haas
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Hooker for Maroons is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Blues is number 9 Reece Robson
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Prop for Maroons is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Blues is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Hudson Young
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2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Liam Martin
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Lock for Maroons is number 13 Reuben CotterLock for Blues is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Maroons is number 14 Max PlathInterchange for Blues is number 14 Cameron Murray
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Interchange for Maroons is number 15 Patrick CarriganInterchange for Blues is number 15 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Interchange for Maroons is number 16 Jeremiah NanaiInterchange for Blues is number 16 Haumole Olakau'atu
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Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Trent LoieroInterchange for Blues is number 17 Blayke Brailey
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Interchange for Maroons is number 18 Reece WalshInterchange for Blues is number 18 Ethan Strange
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Interchange for Maroons is number 19 Murray TaulagiInterchange for Blues is number 19 Tolutau Koula
Reserves
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Reserve for Maroons is number 20 Corey HorsburghReserve for Blues is number 20 Victor Radley
Maroons Ins
- Corey Horsburgh
- Jeremiah Nanai
- Patrick Carrigan
Blues Ins
- Blayke Brailey
- Bradman Best
- Haumole Olakau'atu
- Liam Martin
- Stephen Crichton
Maroons Outs
- Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
- Lindsay Collins
Blues Ins
- Apisai Koroisau
- Brian To'o
- Dylan Lucas
- Kotoni Staggs
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Maroons have won 10 of the last 12 series deciders.
- The Blues have won the last two Origin games played at Suncorp Stadium.
- The Maroons have won the series seven times after losing Game 1.
- Blues Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo will make their 20th Origin appearances.
- Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 13 tries in 12 Origin games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
Don't miss a minute of the action when Queensland and NSW collide in an epic State of Origin decider. Live on Channel 9, 9Now and Watch NRL, Wednesday July 8.
