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The return of Queensland's breakout player from 2022 is among a handful of changes in coach Billy Slater's 19-man squad named for Game Two of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series.

After missing Queensland's 26-18 victory in Origin I in Adelaide due to suspension, Nanai returns to the side in the second row as replacement for Tom Gilbert who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the series opener. 

Despite the Cowboys forward having played just once since Round 9 – returning for North Queensland's win against the Storm in Round 14 – Slater is confident Nanai will be ready for the rigours of Origin. 

“Firstly, he played all three games last year, Jeremiah, and was outstanding," Slater said.

“He had a great year last year and I think the thing that gave me confidence in Jeremiah coming back into the team is, he did come back from suspension and I felt that was probably the most energy he’s had in his footy all year.

“It looked like the Jeremiah of last year and he’s obviously worked really hard through that period that he was off and he’s another guy that’s earned this opportunity.

“He’s a Queenslander, and he’s done the job before and he played really well on the weekend."

Along with Gilbert, Jai Arrow (ankle) and Selwyn Cobbo (hip pointer) are also out, with Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika and Storm winger Xavier Coates called into the side. 

Fotuaika is joined in the squad by Titans teammate AJ Brimson, who will feature as 18th Man, with Tom Dearden returning to club commitments with the Cowboys, while Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh joins the side as 19th Man.

For Coates, it will be his first Origin game since the opening match of the 2022 series in Sydney, where he was unfortunately ruled out with injury. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Maroons is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Blues is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'o
  • Centre for Maroons is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Blues is number 3 Stephen Crichton
  • Centre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
    Centre for Blues is number 4 Tom Trbojevic
  • Winger for Maroons is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Blues is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
  • Five-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron Munster
    Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Jarome Luai
  • Halfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Blues is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

  • Prop for Maroons is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
    Prop for Blues is number 8 Junior Paulo
  • Hooker for Maroons is number 9 Ben Hunt
    Hooker for Blues is number 17 Reece Robson
  • Prop for Maroons is number 15 Thomas Flegler
    Prop for Blues is number 10 Payne Haas
  • 2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 David Fifita
    2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Maroons is number 16 Reuben Cotter
    2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Hudson Young
  • Lock for Maroons is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
    Lock for Blues is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Maroons is number 8 Lindsay Collins
    Interchange for Blues is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Interchange for Maroons is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    Interchange for Blues is number 14 Stefano Utoikamanu
  • Interchange for Maroons is number 14 Harry Grant
    Interchange for Blues is number 15 Cameron Murray
  • Interchange for Maroons is number 17 Moeaki Fotuaika
    Interchange for Blues is number 16 Liam Martin

Reserves

  • Replacement for Maroons is number 18 AJ Brimson
    Replacement for Blues is number 18 Matt Burton

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Maroons squad for Game Two

  1. Reece Walsh (Broncos)
  2. Xavier Coates (Storm)
  3. Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
  4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
  5. Murray Taulagi (Cowboys)
  6. Cameron Munster (Storm)
  7. Daly Cherry-Evans, capt. (Sea Eagles)
  8. Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
  9. Ben Hunt (Dragons)
  10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans)
  11. David Fifita (Titans)
  12. Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys)
  13. Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
  14. Harry Grant (Storm)
  15. Thomas Flegler (Broncos)
  16. Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
  17. Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)
  18. AJ Brimson (Titans)
  19. Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

Coach: Billy Slater

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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