The State of Origin is set to kick off at Sydney's Accor Stadium on June 8, with old and new NRL stars running onto the field.
Queensland will welcome three new debuts, including young Selwyn Cobbo, whilst the NSW Blues welcomes old favourite, Jack Wighton.
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NRL kicks off 2022 Indigenous Round
Cherbourg boy's debut
Queensland coach Billy Slater has backed 19-year-old Selwyn Cobbo to debut with Queensland for the Origin opener.
The Cherbourg boy won a hotly contested spot in the Maroon’s backline ahead of Bronco teammate Corey Oates and North Queensland pair Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Murray Taulagi.
The young winger has turned heads scoring 10 tries in his past six NRL games.
Slater said he enjoyed the call to Cobbo.
"He said thank you a few times," Slater grinned.
"He's a likeable lad and he's taken the game by storm.
"He's really lit the game up - brings so much excitement - but he's doing a lot right that we don't focus on as well.
"Which is a big reason why he's there."
As well as 19-year-old Cobbo, Cowboy Reuben Cotter was "one of the first written down" to debut at lock, while Pat Carrigan and Jeremiah Nanai, also 19, are both set to debut for their state from the interchange bench.
The Maroons will assemble in Brisbane on Monday before travelling to the Gold Coast for their training camp ahead of game one.
Selwyn Cobbo of the Broncos will debut with Queensland in Origin game one. Source: AAP
Wighton returns
Wiradjuri man, Wighton will return to centre for the NSW Blues after a surprise call by Brad Fittler to start him in Game I.
Fittler revealed on Monday morning that Wighton would partner Kotoni Staggs in the centres, leaving Penrith rookie Stephen Crichton to come off the bench in No.14.
Wighton travelled to Sydney from Canberra on Sunday night expecting to be left as a reserve, with Staggs, Crichton and utility Hynes all in the squad.
The 29-year-old father of three even approached Fittler to confirm the news when told by a reporter on Monday morning, ahead of the Blues first on-field training session at Coogee on Tuesday.
Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker of the Blues and Jack Wighton of the Blues pose after winning game two of the 2020 State of Origin series. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
"He keeps things pretty tight-knit Freddy. I am stoked," Wighton told AAP.
"It's awesome. You know your role, you've got your job and it's something you can focus on all week.
"It's good instead of coming off the bench and not knowing what you're coming on to do."
This will be the 2020 Dally M award winner's fourth Origins for NSW after his debut in 2019.
He last played centre in NSW's series loss in 2020, where he missed 12 tackles in the opening two games.
He endured a difficult series opener against Dane Gagai in Adelaide, brushed aside once in the lead up to a crucial Queensland try.
He will mark up against the same man next Wednesday at Accor Stadium, but insisted he is up to the challenge of defending at centre again.
"You're always learning," Wighton told AAP.
"I had a lot of good moments, there were a couple of slip-ups as well. But that's rugby league, you've just got to get back on the horse."
Fittler said Wighton had won his way into the centres off the back of two big weeks for the Raiders, on return from a dangerous-throw ban.
"He has looked fast and fresh and broke the line a lot," Fittler said.
"The (Origin) experience (was key).
"I was mindful of not putting inexperienced people together. I think that is really important.
"Given the kicking game we have seen from Cherry-Evans and Munster.
"That has been a big part of our game. I think that is sometimes where experience under conditions can help."
Brad Fittler has called on Jack Wighton to play for the Origin opener. Source: AAP
Origin series starter sides
NSW: James Tedesco (capt), Brian To'o, Kotoni Staggs, Jack Wighton, Daniel Tupou, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Payne Haas, Damien Cook, Junior Paulo, Cameron Murray, Tariq Sims, Isaah Yeo. Bench: Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan Matterson. 18th: Nicho Hynes.
Queensland: Kalyn Ponga, Selwyn Cobbo, Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans (capt), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Kurt Capewell, Felise Kaufusi, Reuben Cotter. Interchange: Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Patrick Carrigan, Jeremiah Nanai. Reserves: Tom Dearden, Jai Arrow, Thomas Flegler, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi.
