Billy Slater recalls Maroons high-leaping winger Xavier Coates

June 12, 2023 3:12 pm.by Wayne Heming

Queensland has recalled high-leaping Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates and bullocking Gold Coast Tongan international Moeaki Fotuaika for Wednesday week’s second State of Origin clash with NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

North Queensland Cowboys back-rower Jeramiah Nanai, who missed Queensland’s opening game win in Adelaide through suspension, has also been rushed back into the side to cover the season-ending shoulder injury suffered by Tom Gilbert in that win.

They are the only changes made by coach Billy Slater and Queensland selectors, Gene Miles and Darren Lockyer as the Maroons attempt to wrap up the series in front of a sellout crowd with back-to-back series victories.

Gold Coast utility AJ Brimson, who has played three Origins, is 18th man with Canberra’s Corey Horsburgh named 19th man.

Coates, who scored one of his trademark aerial tries for Melbourne Storm in their 54-10 mauling of the Cronulla Sharks yesterday, replaces brilliant Bronco’s winger Selwyn Cobbo, for his seventh Origin game after being overlooked for Adelaide.

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Cobbo is battling a hip-related injury which he bravely took onto the field against Newcastle on Saturday night, scoring Brisbane’s first try.

Despite playing strongly against the Knights in the 24-20 win, Cobbo’s injury was considered too much of a gamble to take into an Origin NRL game plus he would probably have been needled up just to get in the field.

Fotuaika, who replaces Jai Arrow (syndesmosis) on the bench, played himself back into the Queensland side with a huge performance for the Titans in their 28-12 win over the Wests Tigers at the weekend.

The 23-year-old 107kg New Zealand prop is no stranger to the Origin arena having already played for the Maroons four times in 2021 and 2022 series.

His high work rate and mobility for a big man, plus the fact he has performed on the Origin stage before, were all factors in him beating Horsburgh to a spot in Slater’s 17-man squad.

In 58 minutes of action against the Tigers, he was very damaging, running for almost 140 metres, 50 of them post contact, and making 34 tackles.

State of Origin Queensland Maroons Game 2 team list

The Queensland team, announced by the Queensland Rugby League at 9am on June 12, 2023, is as follows:

Queensland Maroons

Reece Walsh (Broncos)
Xavier Coates (Storm)
Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
Murray Taulagi (Cowboys)
Cameron Munster (Storm)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
Lindsay Collins (Rooster)
Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
David Fifita (Titans)
Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys)
Patrick Carrigan (Broncos_
Harry Grant (Storm)
Thomas Flegler (Broncos)
Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)
AJ Brimson (Titans)
Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

Blues coach Brad Fittler, who is facing some selection calls, will delay naming his squad with backrower Liam Martin in serious doubt until he is cleared to play after suffering a category one concussion when forced from the field for the Panthers on Friday night.

With a mandatory 11-day stand-down period hanging over his head, Martin, who was one of the Blue’s best in Adelaide, will require a clearance in the next 24 hours from an independent doctor to be any chance of playing in Origin II.

Fittler also has to settle on a replacement for gun Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary who is receiving intensive treatment for a hamstring in a bid to play in game three next month.

Cronulla’s Dally M Player of the year, Nicho Hynes was a strong tip but unfortunately chose the wrong time to turn in one of his worst games in some time against a rampant Storm on Sunday giving either Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds or the late firmer Mitchell Moses from Parramatta a good shot at an Origin recall.