Billy Slater has been compelled in to 2 massive modifications in his Queensland outfit to journey to Sydney for Game III.
Broncos enforcer Tom Flegler has been dominated out with a foot damage, whereas star fullback Reece Walsh earned a suspension for opposite conduct.
Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh has capped off a formidable 2023 marketing campaign with an Origin debut, changing Flegler on the bench.
Meanwhile, Titans speedster AJ Brimson has been named at fullback in a triumphant Origin return with J’maine Hopgood incomes a call-up to his first Maroons camp.
Read beneath for all the massive winners and losers out of Monday’s QLD crew announcement!
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WINNERS
BILLY SLATER
It was a two-horse race for Queensland’s fullback spot heading in to the collection opener. Reece Walsh earned the nod over incumbent Kalyn Ponga and went on to star in his first Origin collection. But now each gamers aren’t obtainable for choice, with Walsh suspended and Ponga ruling himself out of the 2023 collection. While dropping your two main choices for a vital place may very well be seen as a large blow — as a substitute it has shone a light-weight on the embarrassment of riches Queensland have of their outdoors backs. Slater had a number of robust choices to choose from at fullback and settled on Titans gun AJ Brimson who isn’t any stranger to the Origin enviornment. Outside of him, Maroons selectors had extra choices. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow may have simply worn the No.1 jersey, with Dane Gagai incomes an Origin recall. Cameron Munster has beforehand delivered on the again, which might have seen Tom Dearden return to the No.6 jersey after a stellar efficiency in opposition to the Tigers. Selwyn Cobbo’s Round 18 masterclass may have additionally seen him thrown into the fullback function, albeit an out of doors alternative. Picking Queensland’s fullback for Game III may very well be the best job in Australia.
COREY HORSBURGH
Horsburgh has been one of many Raiders’ most constant gamers in 2023 and has blossomed into a flexible ahead below Ricky Stuart. The 25-year-old has the power to play within the center and on an edge, having crammed in for Elliott Whitehead this season. Horsburgh suffered a brutal damage in 2020, tearing ligaments in his foot. However, his choice to make his Origin debut now caps off a formidable rise and can see him come off the bench, prone to wreak havoc within the center in opposition to tiring NSW forwards. ‘Big Red’ has additionally performed a vital function in Canberra’s cost in direction of finals soccer, successful 9 of their final 11 video games.
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AJ BRIMSON
Brimson has already performed twice for Queensland however will now return to the Origin enviornment within the No.1 jersey following Walsh’s suspension. The Titans gun made his debut in 2020, enjoying a vital function in Queensland’s Game I win earlier than he was dominated out of the collection with a Lisfranc damage. His subsequent two appearances got here a 12 months later, that includes because the utility in Game I and Game III of the 2021 collection. The 24-year-old has now been rewarded for his spectacular kind for the Gold Coast this season, regardless of battling with accidents.
J’MAINE HOPGOOD
Hopgood has been one of many buys of the season in 2023, turning into a key determine within the Eels’ cost to the finals this season. The 24-year-old joined Brad Arthur’s aspect within the low season, making a cross-town change from the Panthers. Stuck behind Isaah Yeo within the pecking order, Hopgood was looking for common first grade and has hardly skipped a beat for Parramatta, incomes him a call-up in to his first Origin camp. The gun ahead has solely 25 NRL video games to his identify however will now solely develop as a participant, spending time with Queensland’s finest forward of Game III. The sky is the restrict for Hopgood and it seems solely a matter of time earlier than he pulls on the well-known Maroon jersey.
LOSERS
REECE WALSH
Walsh’s Origin omission falls solely onto his personal shoulders and the younger gun fullback will likely be wishing he may rewind time and keep silent within the second which earned him a three-game ban. In the warmth of the second, Walsh was accused of spraying referee Chris Butler however maintained his feedback have been geared toward teammate Pat Carrigan. The 20-year-old was clearly upset with the judiciary’s resolution and can be taught from his mistake which dominated him out of Game III of the 2023 collection. Despite sitting out in Sydney, Walsh’s debut marketing campaign continues to be one to recollect and his exit from the sphere at Suncorp Stadium pointing to the Queensland badge is an Origin second for the ages.
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CHRISTIAN WELCH
Welch was within the working for Tom Flegler’s vacant bench spot however was pipped on the put up by Raiders firebrand Horsburgh who will make his NRL debut. Welch has performed six video games for the Maroons, that includes in all three within the 2021 collection earlier than a season-ending Achilles damage dominated him out of 2022. The 28-year-old was named as nineteenth man for the collection opener however has since did not be included within the Queensland squad, marking a possible shift in route to youth below Billy Slater. While Welch is likely one of the NRL’s most constant performers, he could discover it troublesome to interrupt in to this Queensland aspect.
TOM DEARDEN
The Cowboys five-eigth delivered one of the damaging performances in latest reminiscence in opposition to the Tigers in North Queensland’s 74-0 rout. The 22-year-old recorded one attempt to 4 strive assists to go along with 148 working metres, three line breaks and 9 sort out breaks. However, Dearden is caught behind Cameron Munster within the Maroon’s playmaking pecking order — and the Storm gun will maintain the No.6 jersey for so long as he needs it. Dearden was a slim likelihood of that includes in Game III if Munster moved to fullback in Walsh’s absence however is now resigned to the 18th man function. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom for the thrilling five-eighth and with youth on his aspect, it’s only a matter of time earlier than he provides to his singular Origin look.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au