Maroons winners and losers: Will Slater's decisions save the series?

Sydney Morning Herald

a day ago

Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has denied he was tempted to issue an SOS to Canberra enforcer Josh Papali'i, declaring he already had the troops to inspire a State of Origin boilover.
Papali'i retired from representative rugby league on the eve of the 2023 series after earning 23 Origin caps, but on Sunday proved he still had the mettle to lead a pack.
In becoming the most capped Raider of all time against South Sydney, the 33-year-old scored twice and ran for 81 metres and five tackle busts, while his coach Ricky Stuart lauded his leadership as key to their top of the table ascent.
The Maroons are still missing Thomas Flegler (shoulder) and Tom Gilbert (pectoral) to injury, while captaincy contender Tino Fa'asuamaleaui heads into game two in Perth with a sternum concern.
New South Wales won game one through the middle, as an engine room led by Payne Haas ran rampant to finish with 124 more post-contact metres and 30 extra tackle-busts than their rivals.
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But Slater was emphatic in that the squad assembled could save the series.
'No, no I haven't,' Slater said, when asked if he had discussed a comeback with Papali'i.
'There are quite a few things we didn't get right, and that's what we'll go over in the first couple of days. Then it's up to the players to go out there in that 80 minutes and deliver that, but that [the forwards battle] is certainly one area.