Summary NSW will be without Greg Bird, who is suspended, and Jarryd Hayne who has left
SYDNEY (AFP) - Playmaker Mitchell Pearce was recalled to the New South Wales State of Origin side Tuesday, as Queensland announced only one new name in their line-up for the May 27 opening clash in Sydney.
With Paul Gallen ruled out with injury, Robbie Farah will captain a NSW team seeking to retain the title they won last year -- their first series win since 2005.
Blues coach Laurie Daley said halfback Pearce, who missed the 2014 breakthrough series, had earned another shot at Origin and will play in a halves combination with Trent Hodkinson.
"He s a guy that I ve got a lot of time for, and I know that he can add value to this team. He s a guy that everyone s excited to play with," Daley said.
NSW will be without Greg Bird, who is suspended, and Jarryd Hayne who has left the National Rugby League to try his hand at American football in the United States while Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough missed out on selection.
For Queensland, Brisbane Broncos prop Josh McGuire has been added to a familiar Maroons line-up which includes Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston and skipper Cameron Smith.
Daly Cherry-Evans was also named in the Queensland side, but is in doubt for the opening match due to an elbow injury, with coach Mal Meninga naming an 18-man squad in case he has to pull out.
Meninga, who will coach Queensland for at least three more years after signing a contract extension with the Maroons, said officials were still awaiting the results of a scan on Cherry-Evans.
"We ll know a bit more when he gets here. We ll make some judgements a little later on today," he said.
NSW (1-17): Josh Dugan; Daniel Tupou, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings, Will Hopoate; Mitchell Pearce, Trent Hodkinson; Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (capt), James Tamou; Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman; Josh Jackson.
Interchange: Trent Merrin, Boyd Cordner, David Klemmer, Andrew Fifita.
Queensland (1-18): Billy Slater; Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Will Chambers; Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk; Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Nate Myles; Aidan Guerra, Sam Thaiday; Corey Parker.
Interchange: Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett, Jacob Lillyman, Dylan Napa.
