Billy Slater's eye-opening move in Queensland team that goes against Maguire call

Yahoo

19-05-2025

Queensland coach Billy Slater has made a telling decision to revert Patrick Carrigan back to his favoured lock position with calls growing for Michael Maguire to do the same at club level. Broncos coach Maguire is facing pressure in Brisbane with the Broncos losing their fifth game in six outings after going down to a spirited Dragons team.
The Broncos continued their second-half woes having capitulated against the Dragons, like they have done in a number of games in the final 40. And fans are demanding change with one of the biggest talking points is the roll Carrigan is playing at club level.
Carrigan made his name as one of the premier locks in the competition, which saw him translate that into the Origin arena over the years. Carrigan has been outstanding under Slater at lock and has cemented the roll in the Queensland 13.
Carrigan was then shifted to prop last year for Australia in the Pacific Championships and Maguire has implemented him in the same role through the middle. While Carrigan has been stellar at prop for the Broncos, alongside Payne Haas, his influence at lock and his ball playing skills have been missed.
The Broncos leader has been doing more of the grunt work in 2025 and it's allowed Maguire to play Kobe Hetherington in 13. But Hetherington's impact in attack has been limited with the lock used for defensive purposes.
Only last week, Broncos legend Corey Parker claimed Carrigan and Haas needed to mix up their attack with Carrigan only passing the ball three times after engaging the defensive line. Using Carrigan in the front row has also seen the likes of Xavier Willison miss out on more minutes through the middle. And after their fifth loss, calls are growing for Carrigan to shift back to lock. And in a telling move Queensland coach Slater has shifted Carrigan back to lock.
There were talks Carrigan would play prop for Queensland with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to return to the starting side after suffering an ACL injury last year. Although Slater has named Carrigan in the 13 Maroons jersey in a move certain to raise eyebrows amongst Broncos fans.
Slater clearly feels Carrigan's ball-playing skills are invaluable to his side having decided to back Fa'asuamaleaui's size through the middle. And Broncos fans have already expressed their frustration with Maguire's selections after the loss on the weekend.
Think we are missing a ball playing lock too, every good attacking side in the comp has that 13 or at least a front rower who can ball play. We seem to be the only team not doing it. Maybe Carrigan back to 13?
— Dean Watling (@deanwatling) May 19, 2025
Something isn't right mate. Carrigan needs to go back to 13 and Jensen in at 8. We look better at fullback now Walsh is injured imo
— WOlner (@willieo2018) May 18, 2025
Bronco's mindset is attack, Madge is defend. I think the grand final loss still resonates and spooked coach and players; shrug it off, Go back to what wotked to get into gf. Carrigan is more effective at 13.
— Wayne Jetty (@WayneJetty) May 18, 2025
I've watched plenty of Fletcher Baker and Kobe Hethrington, and I'll give you the hot tip mate — they're not it. I can't fathom how you don't think shifting Carrigan to 13 and adding BTK to the bench wouldn't improve the team.
— St John (@StJohnPowel) May 18, 2025
Unfortunately, Carrigan suffered a head clash in the final minutes in the loss to the Dragons that saw him split his lip. Coach Maguire admitted there was no serious structural damage, but Carrigan was reportedly going into surgery after the game.
Carrigan had blood pouring from his lip, but it couldn't stapled together because of the location of the cut. Slater will be waiting to hear from Carrigan and how long his recovery would be, but it's expected the Broncos forward will line-up for the Maroons in Game 1 at Suncorp.
Queensland legend Slater has been forced to pick three rookies in Robert Toia, Beau Fermor and Trent Loiero after injuries wreaked havoc on the final selections. Toia has been parachuted in for an Origin debut in the centres after wingers Murray Taulagi and Selwyn Cobbo were both injured in Round 11.
Toia has been in strong form the Roosters, but has only played 10 games at NRL level. But the young star has been touted as a future superstar and Slater, like he did with Reece Walsh, isn't afraid to bring a youngster into the Origin fold.
Toia's inclusion will see Valentine Holmes shift from centre to wing, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Xavier Coates on the other side. Fermor and Loiero have been handed spots on the bench after Tom Gilbert suffered a pec injury, with Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai set to start in the second row.