JACOB Lillyman will return to the scene of his finest hour after being recalled to the Queensland State of Origin team for Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium.
Lillyman, enjoying a great year for the resurgent Warriors in the NRL, is the only change to Kevin Walters’ Maroons from the squad that got the job done 6-4 in Game 1 in Sydney.
Queensland’s 30-game warhorse Nate Myles was ruled out by the team doctor after injuring his knee while playing for Manly in their loss to Penrith on Sunday night, opening the door for Lillyman’s return.
Lillyman was very unlucky not to have been selected for Game 1, given his incumbency and the incredible performance he delivered for Queensland in the 52-6 drubbing of NSW at Suncorp Stadium in the final game of last year’s series.
The problem for Walters and the selectors was always going to be squeezing players into the team, particularly in the forward pack where all but Myles and Lillyman had played for Australia just weeks before the series opener.
But now fate has intervened to force the Maroons’ hand, bringing 32-year-old Lillyman back in to the fold as Queensland looks to wrap up another series at Suncorp Stadium.
The precise nature of Lillyman’s role is yet to be decided however, with Walters yet to make a call on whether he would start him or Josh McGuire alongside Matt Scott in the front row.
“We like to reward those who have done the job in the past,” Walters said at the team announcement. “I haven’t seen Jake play a bad game for Queensland.
“It is sad that Nate is not playing, but it was hard to leave Jake out of Game 1.
“He was one of our top three players in last year’s Game 3. Nate couldn’t recover in time for Game 2, but we are hopeful he will recover in time for Game 3.”
The rest of the team remains intact and in-form, with hopefully a more settled preparation this time around and less of the drama that surrounded Cooper Cronk’s ankle injury in the lead-up to Game 1.
Lillyman’s 11th game for Queensland in Game 3 last year was easily his best in a Maroon jersey.
With the Queensland bench vilified in Sydney after being outgunned by the Blues in Game 2, Lillyman played like a man on a mission with an incredible haul of 138m and five tackle busts from 13 hit-ups as he helped drive the Maroons to the biggest win in Origin history.
Walters used the team announcement to put his players on notice that the job was not done after one win in this year’s series, warning Queensland had “everything to lose” against a desperate NSW side in Game 2.
“They have nothing to lose coming up to Suncorp and we have everything to lose,” Walters said.
“They are a dangerous side and they won’t have any concerns coming up here.
“It will be up to our players and coaching staff to make sure when they get out there on Wednesday they give the performance of their lives.”
As expected, the Blues followed Queensland’s lead and stuck predominantly with their first-game squad – the only exception being the inclusion of Cronulla’s Wade Graham for his Origin debut, to replace the injured Boyd Cordner.
QLD (likely): 1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin O’Neill, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Josh McGuire, 11. Sam Thaiday, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker. Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Jacob Lillyman.
NSW: 1. Matt Moylan, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. James Maloney, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. James Tamou, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Greg Bird, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Andrew Fifita. Development players: Bryce Cartwright, Jack Bird.
