NSW selectors have dumped half-back Brett Kimmorley and brought his Northern Eagles team-mates Adam Muir and Mark O'Meley into the Blues' squad to face Queensland in the second State Of Origin clash next Sunday. St George Illawarra five-eighth Trent Barrett replaces Kimmorley while Sydney Roosters lock Luke Ricketson takes over from discarded Canberra forward Jason Croker. Three forwards will make their debut against the Maroons in the second interstate battle after the Blues' forwards put on a dismal show in the Origin opener on May 6 which Queensland won 34-16. Sharks prop Jason Stevens was overlooked for selection in the NSW front row after he injured his neck during today's 36-6 loss to Parramatta.
Selectors retained Melbourne prop Robbie Kearns, who will team up with Eagles debutant O'Meley in the front row. Parramatta second rower Nathan Hindmarsh was omitted in favour of Muir, while Brisbane centre Michael De Vere lost his place to Penrith's goalkicking centre Ryan Girdler. His Penrith team-mates Matt Adamson and Craig Gower join Eels back rower Andrew Ryan on the Blues' bench. Newcastle forward Ben Kennedy lost his position on the bench.
NSW: Mark Hughes, Adam MacDougall, Ryan Girdler, Matthew Gidley, Jamie Ainscough, Brad Fittler (c), Trent Barrett, Luke Ricketson, Adam Muir, Bryan Fletcher, Robbie Kearns, Luke Priddis, Mark O'Meley. Res: Michael Vella, Matt Adamson, Andrew Ryan, Craig Gower.
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NORTH QUEENSLAND utility Nathan Fien, Brisbane youngster Dane Carlaw and Melbourne forward Russell Bawden have been rushed into Queensland's 17-man squad for the return State of Origin match in Sydney next Sunday. Fien will take over the hooking role from injured Cowboys team-mate John Doyle, while 20-year-old Carlaw has been handed a starting role in the second row for injured skipper Gorden Tallis. Bawden, the only one of the trio to have played Origin before, will come off the bench.
Fullback Darren Lockyer became Queensland's ninth Origin skipper, replacing Tallis, who will miss the remainder of the season with a neck injury. The players, in particular, Bowman, face a team medical in Sydney tomorrow. Bowman is nursing a shoulder injury. Apart from Tallis and Doyle, the other player missing from Queensland's Origin side is front rower John Buttigieg, who is serving a three-game suspension.
Queensland: Darren Lockyer (c), Lote Tuqiri, Darren Smith, Paul Bowman, Wendell Sailor, Daniel Wagon, Paul Green, Shane Webcke, Nathan Fien, Petero Civoniceva, Dane Carlaw, Brad Meyers, Kevin Campion. Res: Chris Walker, Chris Beattie, Carl Webb, Russell Bawden.
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