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

New South Wales have turned to fresh faces to arrest a three-series drought, naming eight debutants for the opening game in Melbourne. It’s the first time the Origin opener has been played outside Queensland or New South Wales.

Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley and Jarryd Hayne are the only NSW survivors from the third game last year, while Brent Kite, Luke O’ Donnell and Luke Bailey provide much-needed experience.
St.George-Illawarra have been rewarded for their regeneration under Wayne Bennett, with Justin Poore, Glenn Stewart and Michael Weyman named on the bench (Darius Boyd has been named in the Queensland team). Other debutants include Newcastle’s James McManus (partnering Jarryd Hayne on the wing, and faced with the onerous task of stopping Israel Folau and Boyd), Penrith’s Michael Jennings (joining Jamie Lyon in the centres), Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese and Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah. Gidley – as expected –will captain the team, taking over from former Newcastle teammate Danny Buderus. Peter Wallace, following an impressive debut last year, has regained the halfback jersey from Mitchell Pearce. Glenn Stewart’s spot is subject to a judiciary hearing after Manly’s controversial loss to the Gold Coast, hence Luke Lewis’ inclusion as 18th man. Surprise omissions included Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen and Gold Coast’s Anthony Laffranchi.

As expected, Queensland’s line-up held few surprises. Brent Tate and Scott Prince are the only omissions from game three of last year’s series (won by Queensland), with Darren Lockyer regaining the captaincy. Ten players (including the entire backline) were involved in Australia’s comfortable win over New Zealand earlier this month, which illustrates how formidable the Maroons should be. Queensland won the last game played at Docklands in 2006, 16-14 (then known as Telstra Stadium).

TEAMS
NEW SOUTH WALES
FULLBACK – Kurt Gidley (Newcastle – c)
WINGERS – Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta), James McManus (Newcastle)*
CENTERS – Jamie Lyon (Manly-Warringah), Michael Jennings (Penrith)*
FIVE-EIGHTH –Terry Campese (Canberra)*
HALFBACK – Peter Wallace (Brisbane)
HOOKER – Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)*
PROP-FORWARDS – Brent Kite (Manly-Warringah), Luke Bailey (Gold Coast),
SECOND-ROW –Ben Creagh (St.George-Illawarra)*, Luke O’ Donnell (North Qld)
LOCK –Paul Gallen (Cronulla-Sutherland)
INTERCHANGE – Craig Wing (South Sydney), Justin Poore (St. George-Illawarra)*, Glenn Stewart (Manly-Warringah)*, Michael Weyman (St.George-Illawarra)*, Luke Lewis (Penrith)
COACH – Craig Bellamy.

QUEENSLAND
FULLBACK – Billy Slater (Melbourne)
WINGERS – Darius Boyd (St. George-Illawarra), Israel Folau (Brisbane)
CENTERS –Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Justin Hodges (Brisbane)
FIVE-EIGHTH – Darren Lockyer (Brisbane - c)
HALFBACK –Johnathan Thurston (North Qld)
HOOKER – Cameron Smith (Melbourne)
PROP-FORWARDS – Steven Price (New Zealand), Petero Civinoceva (Penrith)
SECOND-ROW –Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane)
LOCK – Dallas Johnson (Melbourne)
INTERCHANGE – Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane), Ben Hannant (Canterbury-Bankstown), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters)
COACH – Mal Meninga