Both Origin Game 1 squads were named on Monday morning, NSW at 8am and Queensland an hour later, in the new same-day announcement format. Laurie Daley's Blues will feature six debutants. Billy Slater's Maroons will run out with four. The squad sheets land nine days from the Accor Stadium kick-off at 8.05pm on Wednesday 27 May. The two biggest decisions, in either camp, were the inclusion of Cronulla prop Addin Fonua-Blake under the new eligibility rules, and the omission of reigning Clive Churchill medallist Reece Walsh. Latrell Mitchell, in line for a Centre spot until Friday, was ruled out after the leg injury suffered in the Souths-Dolphins loss at Suncorp.
NSW: Tedesco Recalled, Fonua-Blake In, Six Debutants
James Tedesco is back at fullback, Isaah Yeo confirmed as captain. The halves are Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, Jarome Luai missing the cut. Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs are in the centres, Tolutau Koula and Brian To'o on the wings. Fonua-Blake partners Mitch Barnett, returning from the 2025 ACL, in the front row. Reece Robson starts at hooker with Blayke Brailey on the bench. The bench is Cameron Murray, Victor Radley, Jacob Saifiti and Brailey. Ethan Strange, Casey McLean and Dylan Lucas round out the 20-man squad as reserves. The six players yet to wear the Blue are Fonua-Blake, Koula, Radley, Brailey, Strange and McLean. Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau'atu are the second row, Yeo locks the scrum.
Queensland: Walsh Axed, Ponga Returns, Sam Walker Debuts at Seven
Billy Slater's biggest call was at the back. Reece Walsh, who won the Clive Churchill in last year's grand final and started 2026 with a fractured cheekbone, is omitted entirely from the 20-man squad. Kalyn Ponga returns to the Maroons set-up at fullback. With Tom Dearden ruled out by a syndesmosis injury, Roosters playmaker Sam Walker debuts at halfback alongside captain Cameron Munster at six. The centres are Robert Toia and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Selwyn Cobbo is on one wing and Titans flyer Jojo Fifita debuts on the other. Thomas Flegler comes back from nerve-graft surgery to start in the front row with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant hooks, and Max Plath debuts at lock. Reuben Cotter and Kurt Capewell are the second row. Briton Nikora, Lindsay Collins, Pat Carrigan and Trent Loiero are the bench forwards. Ezra Mam and Gehamat Shibasaki provide backline cover, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is 20th man. Series schedule: Game 1 Accor 27 May, Game 2 MCG 17 June, Game 3 Suncorp 8 July.
Where the Markets Land
NSW had been the favourite on series price all week and the team list has cemented that. Our reviewed bookmakers dabble, Ladbrokes and Picklebet have the Blues at the same series number they opened with, with Game 1 prices firming on the back of the Fonua-Blake confirmation and Walsh's omission. The line stays inside a converted try, around three to four points, on the Blues. Maroons backers will note the upside in the Walker price as a debut halfback in a Game 1, but the same backers must absorb the Walsh axing, which is the single biggest selection call any Maroons coach has made in years. Wally Lewis Medal markets have Munster shortest at the half-eighth, Cleary the favourite from the Blues, Yeo behind Cleary on the captain shortener. Anytime tryscorer to watch for the night: To'o, Crichton, Cobbo, Tabuai-Fidow. Mam off the bench for a try assist is the bench prop that has come in. Full team lists and the lead-up to Game 1 via ABC Sport.