BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Billy Slater has been recalled at fullback and Johnathan Thurston has overcome injury to return as playmaker in a Queensland squad that has undergone its biggest shakeup in a generation after losing the State-of-Origin series opener to New South Wales.
Queensland, which has won 10 of the last 11 series, on Monday made seven changes to the Maroons squad which lost 28-4 in Brisbane last month, with a four veteran forwards dropped to make way for the likes of rookies Coen Hess, Jarrod Wallace and Tim Glasby.
The backline has been reshuffled to accommodate Slater’s return, with Darius Boyd shifting to the left wing in place of Corey Oates and Valentine Holmes earning an Origin debut on the right wing left vacant by Dane Gagai’s shift into the centers.