Origin comeback: Slater rings three Maroons changes as wounded Bronco returns

Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has recalled star forwards Pat Carrigan and Jeremiah Nanai for the State of Origin series decider, with the former expected to face fitness tests in his fight to feature at Suncorp Stadium.

There were fears Carrigan would remain sidelined, having missed the game two triumph in Melbourne after suffering a syndesmosis injury in the Brisbane Broncos’ defeat to the Dragons a month ago.

The lock has been named on Slater’s bench, and while he has not played since his setback, Slater expressed his confidence he would be fit to take the field.

“It was welcome news for myself over the weekend learning that Patty was available – I think he’s about five weeks post-ankle surgery,” Slater said.

“Anyone who knows Pat Carrigan knows that he leaves no stone unturned in his preparation, whether he’s injured or not, and he’s done really well with his rehab.

“If Pat Carrigan wasn’t in this footy team, he would be looking to play for the Broncos this weekend.

“He’ll be right to play. He’ll continue his rehab, he’ll continue doing all the things he’s been sent through his club medical staff and Queensland medical staff, but he’s good to go.”

Carrigan’s inclusion comes at the expense of prop Lindsay Collins, who failed a head injury assessment during the Sydney Roosters’ win against the Broncos on Friday night.

Concussion protocols would have ensured he would not have been able to take part in contact training until this weekend – less than five days out from the July 8 match.

“He’s just not quite right to get up for this game, so that was a tough one. I know what it means to Lindsay to play for Queensland,” Slater said.

Meanwhile, on the back of two-try heroics in the North Queensland Cowboys’ boilover of the Penrith Panthers on Saturday, Nanai has been recalled in Kulikefu Finefeuiaki’s place – the phone call to the latter one Slater described as a “tough conversation”.

Nanai has endured a horror injury run after undergoing off-season surgery on his shoulder, with concerns emerging again two games into his comeback. He has played the Cowboys’ past two matches, scoring three tries and averaging 110 running metres and 26.5 tackles.

“It was great to see him play well on the weekend, but I learned nothing from the weekend’s game that I didn’t already know about Jeremiah Nanai,” Slater said.

“He has done a wonderful job for this footy team – he’s 23 years old, and he’s played 11 Origins already. That’s a lot of Origin football for a young man.

“But he’s quite experienced, and I just know whatever role we ask of Jeremiah, he’s going to be able to perform that.

“There was no hesitation there.”

Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh has been named at 20th man, with Heilum Luki making way, and he will be on standby to come onto the six-man bench should Carrigan fail to prove his fitness.