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<\/p>\nThe Blues have named their squad and Queensland have unveiled their team for Game II of the 2026 Origin series \u2014 and a number of winners and losers have emerged.<\/p>\n
Billy Slater has selected Reece Walsh on the pine, while also promoting his 20th man.<\/p>\n
Laurie Daley looks to have done the same, but has a host of injury concerns lingering in his squad.<\/p>\n
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Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down the big winners and losers out of the second wave of Origin squad announcements!<\/p>\n WINNERS<\/p>\n REECE WALSH (QLD)<\/p>\n Beginning the season as the red-hot favourite to be the Maroons\u2019 fullback, the Kangaroos and Broncos No. 1 has had an up-and-down season.<\/p>\n Playing himself out of Game I selection after a shocker during Magic Round, Walsh\u2019s form since hasn\u2019t been great either with the Broncos in the midst of a five-game losing streak.<\/p>\n Despite this, Slater has found a spot for Walsh on the extended six-man bench.<\/p>\n He\u2019s no certainty to play, but there\u2019s no doubting he could be a massive asset off the bench late for Queensland against some tired Blues forwards if Slater elects to use that tact.<\/p>\n Maroons legend Gorden Tallis was of the opinion Slater also has more than a week in camp to instil confidence back in the premiership-winning fullback \u2014 and potentially unlock his damaging attacking abilities.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we have the footy and they are tired, you throw him on… and as Billy said, he has 10 days to work on it,\u201d Tallis said on NRL360 on Monday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that I have gone into Origin out of form, and when you go with better players it is just a better week.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Reece Walsh is walking in as a Bronco, but when he gets in there, he is a Queenslander.\u201d<\/p>\n Interestingly, Slater revealed that Walsh could be used in the halves if injury strikes Sam Walker or Cam Munster. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have options there,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all know what he\u2019s capable of doing. He\u2019s built a really good game. If needed, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll go out there and perform.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the best thing for the footy team.\u201d<\/p>\n The Australian\u2019s Brent Read believed that while he could be used in the halves, Walsh could also fill a roving middle role previously given to Ponga in the Origin arena.<\/p>\n \u201cImagine Reece late in the halves, bobbing up in the middle of the field and getting the football, putting on the afterburners,\u201d Read said.<\/p>\n And NSW diehard and Daily Telegraph scribe Dean Ritchie admitted that the selection \u201cworries\u201d him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why they picked him,\u201d NRL360 host Braith Anasta replied.<\/p>\n Reece Walsh earned an Origin recall.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n KULIKEFU FINEFEUAKI (QLD)<\/p>\n A deserved promotion for the Dolphins back rower.<\/p>\n 20th man for Game I, Finefeuaki will begin the MCG blockbuster on the interchange bench, with Slater confirming to reporters the 22-year-old will be utilised.<\/p>\n Finefeuaki takes the place of the injured Pat Carrigan, who could be sidelined for both Game II and III after undergoing ankle surgery last week.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a stellar year for Finefeuaki, who has become a real metre-eater on an edge.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s been the young gun\u2019s commitment to defence which has pleased Slater the most. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been jumping out of the screen all season to be honest. When the opportunity arose, he\u2019s been standard of footy that\u2019s acceptable for the Maroons,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re great phone calls. Kristian Woolf needs a huge rap for the development of some of the Dolphins\u2019 players and Kuli is a beneficiary of that<\/p>\n \u201cHe runs hard, he carries hard, he\u2019s consistent but I\u2019ve loved the improvement with his defence.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally he was excited. He\u2019s been involved with camps in the past knowing he wasn\u2019t going to be playing but now he knows he\u2019ll be lacing up the boots next Wednesday night.\u201d<\/p>\n Eels denied in controversial loss | 03:24<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n DYLAN LUCAS (NSW)<\/p>\n If you ever want to know what the saying \u2018banging the door down\u2019 looks like \u2014 just ask Dylan Lucas.<\/p>\n After being named 20th man for the series opener, the Knights back rower went back to club land and has arguably been in career-best form, scoring tries at will and breaking defensive lines at will.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old also locked in his long-term future, signing a new deal to remain in Newcastle, and his looming Origin debut caps off an impressive start to the year for the rising star.<\/p>\n It remains to be seen where Lucas could slot in, and if he even does get minutes, with his club teammate Jacob Saifiti failing to take the field in Game I.<\/p>\n But regardless, Lucas has forced Laurie Daley\u2019s hand when it comes to his team selections, with NRL360 host Braith Anasta coining him one of his favourite players.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s so good, he has Origin written all over him… he\u2019s old school, tough, runs good lines,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d be a dream for a half.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Knights recruitment manager Peter O\u2019Sullivan labelled him the \u201ccomplete package\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cDylan has been a revelation on our team over the past few years,\u201d O\u2019Sullivan said.<\/p>\n \u201cWith his line running, speed, athleticism and edge defence, he is now the complete package.<\/p>\n \u201cDylan has matured into one of the team\u2019s most influential leaders, he is analytical, vocal and drives standards both on and off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n Dylan Lucas could make his Origin debut.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n MITCHELL MOSES (NSW)<\/p>\n Mitchell Moses has been named in Laurie Daley\u2019s squad as he eyes a return to the No.6 jersey.<\/p>\n While he was Daley\u2019s first choice five-eighth prior to the series opener, there\u2019s a genuine argument to say he should not have been included in this squad for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n Firstly, he is carrying a hamstring injury which he suffered two days out from Game I, and as such hasn\u2019t featured for the Eels since.<\/p>\n Secondly, NSW officials are said to hold concerns regarding his fitness \u2014 even though Jason Ryles was confident he would be fit to take the field.<\/p>\n \u201cShould he be selected, he will be fine,\u201d Ryles said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very comfortable with him playing Origin. He deserves it and I think every time he goes and plays, he does really well, NSW does well. It\u2019s part of having good players at your footy club.\u201d<\/p>\n The Daily Telegraph\u2019s Brent Read was of the same opinion, which could silence the doubts surrounding his fitness.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will be fit for the game, no question about that,\u201d Read said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe message they are getting from Parramatta is that he is good to go… I think he is odds on to play at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell Moses has been battling a hamstring complaint.Source: The Daily Telegraph<\/p>\n LOSERS<\/p>\n STEPHEN CRICHTON (NSW)<\/p>\n Multiple reports stated that Blues officials were concerned with Stephen Crichton\u2019s lingering shoulder injury.<\/p>\n And they were right.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs star potentially was going to be left out of his side\u2019s Round 14 clash, signalling his fitness issues were too much of a concern to take the field and ending his hopes of retaining his centre spot.<\/p>\n But instead, Crichton was named and took the field, even kicking the winning penalty goal.<\/p>\n However, after the clash it was clear his injury was too much of a concern for the NSW coaching staff and he was ruled out despite being named in the origin squad.<\/p>\n Crichton endured one of his worst performances in a Blues jumper in the series opener, dropping the ball on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n However, he did come up with a big moment, proving he is well and truly up to the grade, setting Ethan Strange up for a stellar try.<\/p>\n But in the end, he was clearly one of the players Daley was waiting on when it came to his injury reports \u2014 and Crichton\u2019s didn\u2019t come back favourably.<\/p>\n Stephen Crichton has been battling a shoulder complaint.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n EZRA MAM (QLD) <\/p>\n As expected, Mam was axed from the Origin squad, replaced by teammate Walsh.<\/p>\n It hasn\u2019t been the greatest of seasons for the five-eighth, who has struggled with his defence and his consistency.<\/p>\n He has also been out of touch during Brisbane\u2019s five-game losing streak, dumped the bench for the clash against the Titans.<\/p>\n He ended up seeing the field early due to Tom Duffy\u2019s head knock and flashed glimpses in the first half with ball in hand, but his puzzling last minute decision robbed Brisbane of a chance of a miraculous win.<\/p>\n On his day, he can be a real handful, and his performance in big games over the past few seasons indicate that he could be a threat at Origin level, but until he finds that form consistently, he\u2019ll probably be out of Slater\u2019s plans for now.<\/p>\n Mam\u2019s omission means the Maroons won\u2019t have any halves cover on the bench, but Slater indicated that Walsh could fill that role if need be.<\/p>\n ‘No One’s Talked About More’ | 05:47<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n TITANS MIRACLE: Broncos woes roll on as all-time try seals \u2018Suncorp miracle\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n BRONCOS BLUNDER: Legend exposes crucial error by under-fire star in upset loss<\/a><\/p>\n