Kevin Walters has made the two biggest calls of his coaching career by sensationally sidelining Queensland Origin royalty Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston for next Wednesday’s series opener.
Slater’s omission from an 18‑man Maroons squad, despite making a successful NRL return from successive shoulder reconstructions, was the biggest in a number of bombshells from Walters.
Thurston was named 18th man and heads into camp with an injury cloud hanging over him having not played since injuring his shoulder playing for the Kangaroos in their Test win over New Zealand on May 5.
Darius Boyd has kept the Queensland No.1 jumper in a clear nod to his standing as the best fullback in the game, potentially calling curtains on Slater’s outstanding 27‑Origin career.
The NSW Blues will take on the Queensland Maroons at 10pm next Wednesday in State of Origin 1 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Queensland Maroons Team
1 Darius Boyd
2 Corey Oates
3 Will Chambers
4 Justin O’Neill
5 Dane Gagai
6 Anthony Milford
7 Cooper Cronk
8 Dylan Napa
9 Cameron Smith (c)
10 Nate Myles
11 Josh Papalii
12 Matt Gillett
13 Josh McGuire
14 Michael Morgan
15 Sam Thaiday
16 Aidan Guerra
17 Jacob Lillyman
18th man: Johnathan Thurston
Source: Foxsports
