Origin comeback: Slater rings three Maroons changes as wounded Bronco returns

Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has recalled star forwards Pat Carrigan and Jeremiah Nanai for the State of Origin series decider, with the former expected to face fitness tests in his fight to feature at Suncorp Stadium.

There were fears Carrigan would remain sidelined, having missed the game two triumph in Melbourne after suffering a syndesmosis injury in the Brisbane Broncos’ defeat to the Dragons a month ago.

The lock has been named on Slater’s bench, and will need to prove he has overcome the setback having not played since, with his inclusion coming at the expense of mainstay prop Lindsay Collins.

Collins failed a head injury assessment during the Sydney Roosters’ win against the Broncos on Friday night, with concussion protocols ensuring he would not have been able to take part in contact training until this weekend – less than five days out from the July 8 match.

Meanwhile, on the back of two-try heroics in the North Queensland Cowboys’ boilover of the Penrith Panthers on Saturday, Nanai has been recalled in Kulikefu Finefeuiaki’s place.

Nanai has endured a horror injury run after undergoing off-season surgery on his shoulder, with concerns emerging again two games into his comeback. He has played the Cowboys’ past two matches, scoring three tries and averaging 110 running metres and 26.5 tackles.

“You can see how important he is to us in two games,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said after his side’s 26-12 win against Penrith.

“What I like is he spent a fair bit of time out of the game, but he hasn’t missed a beat.

“I know he was hurting with 15-20 minutes to go.

“I got a message up in the box [saying] should we consider taking him off and making a change, but the people around him pushed him along.”

Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh has been named at 20th man, with Heilum Luki making way, and he will be on standby to come onto the six-man bench should Carrigan fail to prove his fitness.

More to come.