Teenage rookie Reece Walsh has been named at fullback in Queensland’s 19-man squad for State of Origin II at Lang Park on Sunday, despite having played just seven NRL games for the Warriors.
The 18-year-old was allowed to leave Brisbane earlier this year to join the New Zealand side and has played fullback and five-eighth for the team, forcing captain and former Dally M medallist Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the wing.
He will be one of the least experienced Queensland Origin debutants in history, second only to Ben Ikin, who was a few months younger and had only played four ARL games when he was named for the first time in 1995.
Warriors coach Nathan Brown warned against picking Walsh for Origin, saying “it’s not in anyone’s best interests”, but the Maroons are desperate due to a number of injuries.
Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga has been ruled out of Sunday’s game with a groin injury that also forced him to pull out of the series opener, while Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson also missed out as he battles a knee injury.
Hooker Harry Grant will miss game two after aggravating a hamstring strain in Melbourne’s 66-16 win over Wests Tigers on Saturday, and the next choice, Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney, is also unavailable due to a shoulder injury.
Queensland will welcome back prop Josh Papalii, who missed the series opener through suspension, and hooker/halfback Ben Hunt, but the Maroons have a long way to go to turn around the record 50-6 loss sustained in Townsville, despite having a second straight home game.
Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough has been named to start at hooker in the squad after playing all three games in 2018 with Hunt returning to the bench utility role in jersey 14.
North Queensland forward Francis Molo is set to make his debut off the bench, while Cowboys teammate Coen Hess is 18th man and Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has been included in the squad for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Blues on Sunday announced experienced back-rowers Angus Crichton and Dale Finucane would come into their squad to replace the injured Jake Trbojevic.
More to come.
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