Still reeling from Jai Arrow's controversial exit, Queensland have backed a "fiery" Thomas Flegler to help their well-beaten pack stand up to NSW in Wednesday's State of Origin series finale.
Back-rower Felise Kaufusi admitted the Maroons forwards had been rocked by Arrow's biosecurity protocol breach brain snap that forced the South Sydney enforcer to leave their Gold Coast camp just days before Origin III.
But Kaufusi was confident Flegler could fill the void on debut after injecting much-needed energy since his arrival.
Indeed, the young Bronco has already shown he has the Midas touch, fleecing his Maroons teammates in poker games in camp.
After being dominated by the Blues in the first two matches, Kaufusi believes Flegler's winning feeling can rub off on their pack as the Maroons try to avoid suffering their first series whitewash in 21 years.
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Asked if Arrow's departure had been a distraction, Kaufusi said on Sunday: "It has been, I am not going to lie.
"We have dealt with it now and just looking forward to Wednesday night. But Flegler gets his debut. It is pretty exciting for us and his family. I am looking forward to him playing."
Flegler was initially named on an extended Maroons bench for the clash, which has been relocated from Newcastle to the Gold Coast, but suddenly finds himself making his debut off the bench following the loss of Arrow and David Fifita (dangerous contact suspension).
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The 21-year-old may have not had much success in the NRL with Brisbane this season as the former glamour club tries to avoid another wooden spoon but Kaufusi reckons he has seen enough in camp to know Flegler could step up and make a difference on Wednesday night.
The Melbourne forward said Flegler's enthusiasm had been contagious in camp, providing a welcome shot in the arm for the Queensland pack.
"For sure. All these young guys who come in bring a lot of energy and he's definitely one of them," he said.
"He has been enjoying his time [in camp], taking all our money playing poker."
Queensland's 19-game veteran prop Josh Papalii also liked what he saw from Flegler - who has played 51 NRL games since his 2019 debut - in the wake of the Arrow controversy.
Arrow copped a $35,000 fine and two game ban for bringing a woman into Maroons camp but the NRL is yet to close the investigation, looking at whether other players were involved in the bubble breach.
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While Papalii didn't touch on the ongoing probe, he wasn't shy on Flegler's credentials.
"It is a massive loss with Jai out, but we bring in a young and fiery Flegler," he said.
"He is ready to go, he's got a bit of size about him and I am looking forward to playing alongside him."
Papalii was so confident Flegler could step up, he didn't really feel the need to get in the rookie's ear before his debut.
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"You can't give them too much advice," he said. "I would just say 'enjoy yourself, soak it all in'. It hits you that fast, before you know it the game is over, just enjoy it with your teammates.
"He has brought the energy this camp, and I love seeing fresh faces in camp with me starting to get old. He has brought the good energy. He's a fairly big human being as well - hopefully he helps us going forward.
"I thought we [Queensland pack] went alright in the second game. There is still a few things we could fix but in saying that we have the third game in Queensland and we can fix it on Wednesday night."
