Official State of Origin Team Lists: Game One

[Captain Ibis]

News / Live Score Link

https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/05/29/state-of-origin-team-lists-game-one/

Official squads and team lists for Game One of the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series.

NSW Blues team for State of Origin 1​

1. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
2. Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
3. Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)
4. Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
5. Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)
6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
7. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
8. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
9. Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
10. Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
11. Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
12. Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
13. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)

Interchange
14. Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
15. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels)
17. Ryan Matterson (Parramatta Eels)

Reserves
18. Nicho Hynes (Cronulla Sharks)
19. Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights)
20. Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
21. Joseph Suaalii (Sydney Roosters)
22. Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers)

QLD Maroons team for State of Origin 1​

1. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)
2. Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos)
3. Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys)
4. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
5. Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm)
6. Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
8. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)
9. Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)
10. Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
11. Kurt Capewell (Brisbane Broncos)
12. Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
13. Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)

Interchange
14. Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
15. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
16. Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
17. Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys)

Reserves
18. Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)
19. Jai Arrow (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
20. Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos)
21. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland Cowboys)
22. Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)

The Rundown​

Team news​

New South Wales: James Tedesco will captain a Blues side which includes three debutants Ryan Matterson, Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton in the 17 and three more (Joseph Suaalii, Nicho Hynes and Jacob Saifiti) in the extended squad. Staggs will partner Canberra's Jack Wighton in a new-look centre pairing while Daniel Tupou as earned a recall on the wing after missing last year's series. Eels enforcer Reagan Campbell-Gillard will play his first Origin game since 2018. The starting 13 contains eight players who featured in Game Three of last year's series - Tedesco, Brian To'o, Wighton, Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Junior Paulo, Tariq Sims and Damien Cook.

Queensland: Billy Slater's first Origin squad as coach features four debutants - Cowboys duo Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai along with Broncos Patrick Carrigan and Selwyn Cobbo. Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans will skipper the side for the 10th consecutive time and is surrounded by familiar faces in the backline with Kalyn Ponga, Val Holmes, Dane Gagai, Xavier Coates and Cameron Munster all back on deck after playing in Game Three last year. Ben Hunt will start at hooker with Harry Grant on the bench. After missing last year's series with injury, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins returns to the side and is named on the bench. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui moves to prop to replace Christian Welch, who is out with a season-ending achilles injury.

Stat Attack​

Since Origin moved to a three-game series in 1982 there have been just seven series clean sweeps. The Blues have enjoyed three sweeps - in 1986 under Wayne Pearce's captaincy and twice under Brad Fittler, in 1996 and 2000. The Maroons have achieved the feat four times - in 1988 and '89 under 'The King' Wally Lewis, 1995 with Trevor Gillmeister at the helm and 2010 with Darren Lockyer leading the way.

If Joseph Suaalii is handed a Blues debut during this series he would become the fourth 18-year-old to play State of Origin after Ben Ikin (18 years, 83 days in 1995), Brad Fittler (18 years, 114 days in 1990) and Brett Dallas (18 years, 225 days in 1993).

 

[Captain Ibis]

I'm not sold on Wighton starting with Crichton on the bench.. I know Freddy has gotten away with some cooked decisions but he's also been punished for it by the old master.

Still a good squad though.. The Panthers boys with a premiership under their belt and flying high again will bring a lot of confidence to the squad.

I hope Staggs gets himself into the game because he can be known to catch a cold out on the edge, but is otherwise explosive.

 

[spiritofaslan]

Zerotackle did mention they may have had the players in the wrong positions.

That'd make sense because theres no way you'd play Stephen Crichton off the bench. Unless they mean Angus Crichton, which would make sense.

EDIT: Oh wow... seems its right playing Stephen off the bench. I'm guessing to cover backline injuries else that's insane!

 

[Captain Ibis]

Zerotackle did mention they may have had the players in the wrong positions.

That'd make sense because theres no way you'd play Stephen Crichton off the bench. Unless they mean Angus Crichton, which would make sense.

EDIT: Oh wow... seems its right playing Stephen off the bench. I'm guessing to cover backline injuries else that's insane!

Jack has done a good job in the centres before, but his last outing was a disaster. Crichton is a great athlete and I'm sure he'll play well but it's quite a gamble still.

From what I'm seeing that also means Staggs will play on the opposite side to that of his club position.