Fullback - James Tedesco (capt)
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Age: 30
Origins: 21
Origin tries: 7
Retains his spot in the side despite form concerns and stiff challenges from Dylan Edwards and Scott Drinkwater. The heart and soul of the Blues for so long, Tedesco will be desperate to reassert his Origin credentials and save his side from a series whitewash.
Winger - Brian To'o
Age: 24
Origins: 8
Origin tries: 3
His carries out of yardage will be crucial for the Blues, who will hope he can imprint himself on the contest at the other end of the field more than he did in the opening two games.
Centre - Stephen Crichton
Age: 22
Origins: 5
Origin tries: 1
How differently might things have gone if he could have sealed the run-away try that looked so likely when he burst down the edge in Origin II? Crichton can be relied upon on the big stage and has lit Accor Stadium up in back-to-back NRL grand final wins for Penrith.
Centre - Bradman Best
Age: 21
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
Will be out to prove his surprise selection was no fluke. There is no denying Best's power as a ball-runner when he's in his groove, but faces a tough challenge coming up against veteran Val Holmes and Queensland's water-tight edge defence.
Winger - Josh Addo-Carr
Age: 27
Origins: 14
Origin tries: 10
Quiet in the first two games of the series but that could all change with a new halves combination inside him. Only two four-pointers off becoming the Blues' outright highest try-scorer, and wouldn't it be something if he could break the record in front of home fans.
Five-eighth - Cody Walker
Age: 33
Origins: 4
Origin tries: 1
Fittler's biggest selection call was dropping Jarome Luai for Walker but there can be no denying the South Sydney five-eighth's form this season. Has more try assists to his name than any other half this season, but we're yet to see his best at Origin level. Can he salvage a win and prove he's deserving of a spot into 2024?
Halfback - Mitchell Moses
Age: 28
Origins: 2
Origin tries: 0
Was fine on his return to the Origin arena in game two without solving the execution problems that plagued the Blues in the series opener. Expect him to once again take on the bulk of kicking duties, freeing Walker up to play eyes-up footy on the left edge.
Prop - Jake Trbojevic
Age: 29
Origins: 15
Origin tries: 1
The latest Blue to come into the Origin series on the back of limited game time. Trbojevic's calf injury was supposed to rule him out of the whole series, but Fittler couldn't resist picking the tried-and-true Manly man when he put in a big effort for the Sea Eagles in round 18.
Hooker - Damien Cook
Age: 32
Origins: 16
Origin tries: 3
Had a tough day out replacing the injured Tom Trbojevic at centre in Origin II so will feel much more at home in his preferred position of hooker. All going smoothly, he and Robson will provide the one-two dummy-half punch Fittler had envisaged for game two, similar to that which works so well for the Maroons.
Prop - Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Age: 29
Origins: 2
Origin tries: 0
Could barely walk this time two months ago after suffering a horror groin injury but will need to be at his fittest and most powerful to help fill the hole left by Payne Haas. He's accustomed to setting the tone for Parramatta, and a strong start will be vital for the Blues.
Second Row - Liam Martin
Age: 26
Origins: 8
Origin tries: 1
Was the Blues' hitman from the bench in the first two games but takes on a different role by slotting into a completely different starting second row to that fielded in the first two games. The Maroons will cop an earful of his famously fiery chatter from the opening whistle.
Second Row - Keaon Koloamatangi
Age: 25
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
The second of Fittler's debutants for game two after knocking on the door for the past two seasons. The Blues have chopped and changed their back row in recent years, so while the series may be dead, there'll be no shortage of motivation with a spot potentially there for the taking.
Lock - Cameron Murray
Age: 25
Origins: 12
Origin tries: 1
Comes into the starting side in place of Yeo after being underused in Origin II. His groin injury is now well-and-truly in the past and he'll be primed to make the most of the inclusion of Souths teammates Koloamatangi and Walker.
Bench - Isaah Yeo
Age: 28
Origins: 10
Origin tries: 0
Has become accustomed to playing 80 minutes at both club and Origin level but is poised to take a back seat with Murray starting. Likely to be used in a more traditional middle forward role than for his usual link-man ball-playing shtick.
Bench - Jacob Saifiti
Age: 27
Origins: 1
Origin tries: 1
Was the Blues' best forward during his NSW debut in Origin III last year, but can he replicate that performance in another surprise call-up? May be relied upon for big minutes as the only out-and-out prop on a small Blues bench.
Bench - Reece Robson
Age: 25
Origins: 1
Origin tries: 0
A valiant effort to play 80 minutes at hooker on Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium. Showed he's up to the bright lights of the Origin stage, and appears ready to lock down a spot long-term.
Bench - Clint Gutherson
Age: 28
Origins: 3
Origin tries: 0
Fittler has called him the NRL's form player, begging the question why he wasn't selected for Origin II - his effort-first approach to the game is pure Origin. Nevertheless, Gutherson's versatility should help the Blues dodge their previous bench woes.
18th man - Scott Drinkwater
Age: 26
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
After a breakout 2022, Drinkwater is scaling new heights for the Cowboys this year. Only exceptional circumstances will bring him into the game but his inclusion in the extended squad announces him as a future Origin player.
Australian Associated Press
