Official squads and team lists for Game One of the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series.
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The Rundown
Team news
New South Wales: James Tedesco will captain a Blues side which includes three 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. Staggs will partner Canberra's Jack Wighton in a new-look centre pairing while 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 game since 2018. 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, Tariq Sims and Damien Cook.
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, Val Holmes, Dane Gagai, Xavier Coates and Cameron Munster all back on deck after playing in Game Three last year. Ben Hunt will start at hooker with Harry Grant on the bench. 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.
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Stat Attack
Since Origin moved to a three-game series in 1982 there have been just seven series clean sweeps. The Blues have enjoyed three sweeps - in 1986 under Wayne Pearce's captaincy and twice under Brad Fittler, in 1996 and 2000. The Maroons have achieved the feat four times - in 1988 and '89 under 'The King' Wally Lewis, 1995 with Trevor Gillmeister at the helm and 2010 with Darren Lockyer leading the way.
If Joseph Suaalii is handed a Blues debut during this series he would become the fourth 18-year-old to play State of Origin after Ben Ikin (18 years, 83 days in 1995), Brad Fittler (18 years, 114 days in 1990) and Brett Dallas (18 years, 225 days in 1993).
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