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The changes that Queensland needs to make for Origin II
Nicholas Quinlan • May 29th, 2025 1:41 pm
Andrew McCullough and Corey Parker have given their opinions on the changes that coach Billy Slater should make to the Queensland side for Origin II.
The Maroons were well short against the Blues in Game I of the three-game series in an 18-6 defeat at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
The loss has raised questions about who will remain in the Queensland squad for Game II.
Despite the potential for change, McCullough is under the impression that the side may stay the same.
“I think they should make some changes, but I feel Billy won’t make changes,” McCullough said on SENQ’s Breakfast.
“That’s just feeling like (from) his press conference, he said the team that he’s got there just didn’t play to their ability.
“So, I’m feeling, just gut-feel from what he said there is he’s going to stick solid with his team and see if they can back that up.”
But when asked by Parker what changes he would make to the side, McCullough thinks the Maroons should put North Queensland’s Reuben Cotter on the bench and put in either Beau Fermor or Jaydn Su’A to start in the 2nd row to give themselves a better opportunity of attacking the Blues’ edges.
“There were a lot of plays last night but no one was able to punch in that hole, particularly in the back row position,” McCullough noted.
“Look, Reuben Cotter tackles everything that moves. I’m not leaving Reuben out of the team, that’s not what I’m indicating at all.
“But either Beau Fermor starts there or Jaydn Su'A comes on to punch a little back-row spot in there and hits the hole.
“Like some of those guys, aggressive players, Beau Fermor is obviously off the bench there. Limited time last night. So, that could be a little bit of a tinkering with that.
“Reuben played up front before if they need a bit of punch off the bench; leg speed after a bit of fatigue built into that game, there could be something they could look at.”
McCullough flipped the question to Parker about the changes he would make to this Queensland side.
In his response, Parker thinks the Maroons will be required to make changes but is unsure who could come in.
However, he was in agreement with McCullough about the possibility of Su’A taking Cotter’s starting spot in the team.
“I think he (Slater) will be forced to make some changes,” he said.
“He’ll have some influence…on what’s going on. It’s still the old cliché; there’s a lot of footy (to) be played. There’s a week or is it two games some teams have got before the teams come out?
“I had Jaydn Su’A in there (his predicted Game I team). Aggressive, runs a nice hard line also, to probably back up what you're saying.
“Reuben Cotter. Absolutely, tackles everything that moves. But does he ask questions with ball in hand on the edge? That would be the question."
Game II is on June 18 at Optus Stadium in Perth.
