HOW QUEENSLAND SHAPE UP FOR ORIGIN I
Fullback – AJ Brimson
Age: 22
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
With Kalyn Ponga out injured, Titan Brimson gets his chance after impressing following a serious back injury.
Winger – Xavier Coates
Age: 19
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
Teenager Coates can expect plenty of attention from the Blues as they look to test his mettle on the big stage.
Centre – Brenko Lee
Age: 25
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
Fairytale season for the big centre who has gone from NRL discard to premiership and now the Origin arena.
Centre – Dane Gagai
Age: 29
Origins: 13
Tries: 11
A Origin try-scoring specialist, Gagai’s four-pointers have mostly come on the wing.
Winger – Phillip Sami
Age: 23
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
A serious speedster, versatile Titan Sami can bust a tackle as well as beat a man.
Five-eighth – Cameron Munster
Age: 26
Origins: 7
Tries: 0
Carried a problematic knee injury into the grand final but the Maroons are desperate for his Origin playmaking experience.
Halfback – Daly Cherry-Evans (captain)
Age: 31
Origins: 10
Tries: 1
The on-field general will be out to marshal his troops and ensure underdogs Queensland are more than competitive.
Prop – Christian Welch
Age: 26
Origins: 1
Tries: 0
Welch has moved from fringe Origin player to one of the first Maroons picked after a stellar Storm season.
Hooker – Jake Friend
Age: 30
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
Finally gets a crack at Origin and will bring some big-game experience to the table.
Prop – Josh Papalii
Age: 28
Origins: 15
Tries: 2
In career-best form, Raiders enforcer Papalii must get the Maroons on the front foot.
Back-rower – Felise Kaufusi
Age: 28
Origins: 6
Tries: 1
A regular Origin metre-eater, the Maroons will be relying on Kaufusi to bring his Storm premiership form.
Back-rower – Coen Hess
Age: 24
Origins: 5
Tries: 0
The selection of Hess was a surprise given his Cowboys’ form so will be out to prove the doubters wrong.
Lock – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Age: 20
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
A break-out season for the youngster Fa’asuamaleaui has leap-frogged more experienced rivals into the No.13 jersey.
Interchange:
Ben Hunt
Age: 30
Origins: 7
Tries: 0
Performed consistently well at hooker in all 2019 Origin games, Hunt offers much-needed versatility.
Lindsay Collins
Age: 24
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
Has produced some big numbers for the Roosters, Collins will pack plenty of punch off the bench.
Jai Arrow
Age: 25
Origins: 4
Tries: 0
Rock solid and no frills, Arrow brings some much-needed Origin experience among the finishers.
Jaydn Su’A
Age: 23
Origins: 0
Tries: 0
With tackle-busts and offloads his specialities, Su’A appears built for the Origin arena.
