- Mounting injury crisis decimated Maroons stocks
- Selwyn Cobbo and Murray Taulagi join Reece Walsh on injured list
- One debutant has played just 10 NRL matches
Queensland coach Billy Slater has stunned Maroons fans by naming three debutants for the opening State of Origin clash against New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium on May 28.
In a bold selection move, Slater has called on Robert Toia, Beau Fermor and Trent Loiero to wear Maroon for the first time as the Cane Toads battle a mounting injury crisis.
Toia, the 20-year-old Roosters sensation, has earned a starting spot at centre just 10 games into his NRL career.
He replaces injured winger Murray Taulagi, with Valentine Holmes shifting to the wing to partner Toia and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the backline.
Toia’s selection follows the withdrawal of several key Queensland backs, including Selwyn Cobbo, who suffered a wrist injury, and Taulagi, who remains sidelined with a calf issue.
Both were ruled out alongside Brisbane Broncos superstar fullback Reece Walsh and Dolphins enforcer Tom Gilbert.
Sydney Roosters young gun Robert Toia has earned a callup to the Maroons after injuries ruled out a host of talent in the backline
Melbourne Storm enforcer Trent Loiero is less of a shock after stringing together several seasons of strong form
Gold Coast Titans star Beau Fermor will also earn his first Maroons cap in a very new-look side named by Billy Slater
Nicknamed ‘Toia the Destroyer,’ the young centre has impressed in his short NRL stint, particularly during Magic Round, where he bagged two tries and terrorised the Dolphins’ defence.
‘I would love to play Origin,’ he said after Round 11. ‘I just remember watching GI [Greg Inglis] in Origin and how dominant he was.’
Beau Fermor finally gets his chance after persistent injury setbacks, including two ACL tears that saw him miss the entire 2023 season.
The Titans edge forward had been in Maroons camp back in 2022 and has worked his way back into form in 2025 with consistent attack and solid defence.
Melbourne’s Trent Loiero completes the trio of debutants. The 24-year-old forward has played 85 games since debuting in 2021 and brings a gritty work rate to Slater’s bench.
The Maroons’ pack was also reshuffled with further injury concerns clouding their preparations.
Star lock Patrick Carrigan is battling a nasty mouth injury sustained in Brisbane’s weekend loss, where he was seen bleeding and clutching his jaw following a head clash with Jack de Belin.
Initially feared to be a broken jaw, the injury was later diagnosed as a severe lip wound.
Queensland veteran Daly Cherry-Evans held off strong form from Cowboys star Tom Dearden to earn the No.7 jersey for the Maroons
Ben Hunt will not get a State of Origin swansong after a hamstring injury ruled him out for the entire series
Carrigan will consult a plastic surgeon this week and must be cleared by doctors to play in Game I.
Kalyn Ponga returns to the No.1 jersey for the first time since his man-of-the-match effort in the 2022 decider, replacing the injured Walsh.
Cameron Munster also reclaims the No.6 jumper after missing last year’s series.
That pushes Tom Dearden to the bench, where he takes on the utility role previously filled by Ben Hunt, who is also unavailable with a hamstring strain.
Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui returns to the front row after missing last year with an ACL injury.
QUEENSLAND MAROONS FOR STATE OF ORIGIN I
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Xavier Coates
3 Robert Toia
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5 Valentine Holmes
6 Cameron Munster
7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
8 Mo Fotuaika
9 Harry Grant
10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11 Reuben Cotter
12 Jeremiah Nanai
13 Pat Carrigan
BENCH:
14 Tom Dearden
15 Lindsay Collins
16 Beau Fermor
17 Trent Loiero
RESERVES:
18 Kurt Mann
19 Jesse Arthars
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .