:: State of Origin :: Stage of Origin ::

NSW have pulled out all the stops in a bid to avoid a third consecutive series loss. They have made five changes for game three, with Sydney Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce and Canberra’s Joel Monaghan to make their debuts. Monaghan will replace the injured Mark Gasnier, while Pearce will step in for Peter Wallace, who injured himself late in Origin II. As expected, Greg Bird’s injury has cleared the way for Braith Anasta’s Origin recall. His club combination with Pearce could prove vital if the game is tight. There are five Sydney Roosters players in the side, which is testament to their wonderful club form. Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne is back in the side at the expense of Steve Turner. After being outplayed at Suncorp Stadium, the NSW forward pack has been adjusted; Willie Mason has been shifted to prop, while Craig Fitzgibbon will go back to the second-row. Ben Cross will re-appear on the bench, replacing Newcastle team-mate Steve Simpson.

Queensland, not surprisingly, has named an unchanged line-up for the decider. If they win at Homebush, they will become the first Maroons’ team to claim a series hat-trick since 1989.

NEW SOUTH WALES
FULLBACK – Brett Stewart (Manly-Warringah)
WINGERS – Anthony Quinn (Melbourne), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta)
CENTERS – Joel Monaghan (Canberra) *, Matt Cooper (St. George-Illawarra)
FIVE-EIGHTH – Braith Anasta (Sydney Roosters)
HALFBACK – Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters) *
HOOKER – Danny Buderus (Newcastle - c)
PROP-FORWARDS –Willie Mason (Sydney Roosters), Brett White (Melbourne)
SECOND-ROW – Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne)
LOCK – Paul Gallen (Cronulla-Sutherland)
INTERCHANGE – Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Ben Cross (Newcastle), Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast), Anthony Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
COACH – Craig Bellamy.
*= on debut

FULLBACK – Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane),
WINGERS – Darius Boyd (Brisbane), Israel Folau (Melbourne)
CENTERS –Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Brent Tate (New Zealand)
FIVE-EIGHTH – Johnathan Thurston (North Qld)
HALFBACK – Scott Prince (Gold Coast)
HOOKER – Cameron Smith (Melbourne -c)
PROP-FORWARDS – Steven Price (New Zealand), Petero Civinoceva (Penrith)
SECOND-ROW – Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast), Michael Crocker (Melbourne)
LOCK – Dallas Johnson (Melbourne)
INTERCHANGE – Billy Slater (Melbourne), Ben Hannant (Brisbane), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane)
COACH – Mal Meninga