Queensland have suffered a major blow ahead of Origin I with star playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans ruled out of the series opener with a shoulder injury.
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Cherry-Evans suffered the injury during Manly’s 11-10 loss to Penrith on Monday and was ruled out of the May 28 clash on Wednesday afternoon.
Queensland Rugby League confirmed Cherry-Evans will be replaced on the interchange by North Queensland Cowboys pivot Michael Morgan.
Morgan has been in solid form in recent weeks for the Cowboys and it comes as no surprise Maroons coach Mal Meninga has draghted in the 23-year-old to replace Cherry-Evans.
Queensland have included Darius Boyd and Josh McGuire and the clash at ANZ Stadium, with the former being selected on the wing despite having just two NRL matches under his belt in 2015.
McGuire is in line to make his Origin debut after being named on the interchange by Maroons coach Mal Meninga.
New South Wales, on the other hand, has recalled Mitchell Pearce, whith Josh Dugan replacing the NFL-bound Jarryd Hayne at fullback.
Canterbury Bulldogs star Josh Jackson will start at lock in place of injured skipper Paul Gallen, with Wests Tigers veteran Robbie Farah named captain in Gallen’s absence.
Check out the updated State of Origin squads below:
NEW SOUTH WALES SQUAD:
1. Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
2. Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
3. Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
4. Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters)
5. William Hopoate (Parramatta Eels)
6. Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
7. Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
8. Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
9. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers – captain)
10. James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys)
11. Beau Scott (Newcastle Knights)
12. Ryan Hoffman (NZ Warriors)
13. Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Interchange:
14. Trent Merrin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
15. Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
16. David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
17. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
QUEENSLAND SQUAD:
1. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
2. Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos)
3. Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
4. Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
6. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
7. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
8. Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys)
9. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm – captain)
10. Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans)
11. Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters)
12. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
13. Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
Interchange:
14. Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
15. Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
16. Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
17. Jacob Lillyman (New Zealand Warriors)
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