Former NZ Warriors star Reece Walsh will make his long-awaited State of Origin debut for Queensland in next week's series-opener.
Now with Brisbane Broncos, Walsh has beaten out Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga for the right to wear the No.1 jersey for the defending champions. He was selected for game two of the 2021 series, but was scratched, after suffering a hamstring injury in the build-up.
Walsh, 20, is the only debutant in Billy Slater's 19-man squad, which includes five players who weren't part of last year's 2-1 series triumph.
Dolphins teammates Thomas Gilbert and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have been named, replacing veterans Kurt Capewell and Dane Gagai in the run-on side.
Gold Coast Titans forward David Fifita has been rewarded for his strong form with a recall to the squad for the first time since 2021, while Melbourne Storm prop Christian Welch returns, after missing last year's series with injury.
Ponga, Gagai and Capewell are the most glaring omissions from the squad, while winger Corey Oates has also failed to earn selection. North Queensland Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai misses out, due to suspension.
Meanwhile, NSW coach Brad Fittler has named three debutants in his 18-man Blues squad.
Reigning Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes of Cronulla Sharks has been named to the bench, with Penrith Panthers half Jarome Luai holding on to the No.6 jumper.
Canberra Raiders forward Hudson Young and Canterbury Bulldogs powerhouse Tevita Pangai Junior are also poised to make their first appearances in a Blues jersey.
Bulldogs speedster Josh Addo-Carr returns to the Origin fold and will line up on the wing, along with Brian To'o - one of five Panthers picked in the side, along with Luai, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin.
Manly Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic will partner South Sydney Rabbitohs' Latrell Mitchell in the centres, with captain James Tedesco at fullback. Forward Jake Trbojevic is unavailable, due to a calf injury.
Veteran Tyson Frizell has been recalled for his first Origin since 2020, while Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau has won the race for the starting spot, ahead of the Rabbitohs' Damien Cook.
Walsh's Queensland selection means he's unlikely to feature, when the Broncos travel to Napier to take on NZ Warriors on Saturday.
Teammates Payne Haas, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler and Patrick Carrigan have also earned Origin call-ups, meaning Brisbane will field a severely depleted side against the Auckland-based club.
Last season, Walsh was granted an early release from his contract with the Warriors to return to the Broncos, where he began his NRL career as a development player.
Queensland: 1-Reece Walsh (Broncos), 2-Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), 3-Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), 4-Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), 5-Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), 6-Cameron Munster (Storm), 7-Daly Cherry-Evans - captain (Sea Eagles), 8-Thomas Flegler (Broncos), 9-Ben Hunt (Dragons), 10-Lindsay Collins (Roosters), 11-Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), 12-David Fifita (Titans), 13-Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
Interchange: 14-Harry Grant (Storm), 15-Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans), 16-Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), 17-Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs), 18-Tom Dearden (Cowboys), 19-Christian Welch (Storm)
New South Wales (alphabetical order): Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Payne Haas (Broncos), Nicho Hynes (Sharks), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Liam Martin (Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Tevita Pangai Junior (Bulldogs), Junior Paulo (Eels), James Tedesco- captain (Roosters), Brian To'o (Panthers), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Hudson Young (Raiders)
