KIERSTEN DUKE: Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster are back, Max King, Robert Toia set to make Origin debuts

Some of the biggest selection calls for the State of Origin opener have officially been made.

Coaches Laurie Daley and Billy Slater had some explaining to do after some late injuries created chaos for their selection process.

Rugby league fans all over the country haven’t held back in letting their thoughts be known. So, with that in mind, what’s one more unsolicited opinion. Here are my players to watch for the series.

The Blues

Max King - Canterbury Bulldogs

A player who often goes unnoticed by a lot of people certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Daley.

Unknown to King, it was just weeks ago at Magic Round where his Origin fate was decided.

There was a moment within the game where Max was tackled a few metres out from the sticks, the ball ended up being moved to the left and was dropped.

It was picked up by an opposing player who ran 80m before getting tackled.

The Titans then moved the ball to the left and the next person who made a tackle was King.

The urgency the Bulldogs prop showed to support his teammates is exactly what’s required during Origin.

It’s going the extra mile to win the small battles within the game that secure the overall victory.

Those one per cent efforts add up. Especially in one of the toughest games in sport.

His selection came at the expense of Taylan May who probably did not do himself any favours by telling a friend on a gaming social media platform to throw his NSW jersey in the bin last week because he did not think he would be chosen in the squad.

Daley said there were better players than May, even though his form and stats say otherwise, so it’s hard not to believe May’s flippant comment cost him his spot.

Campbell Graham - South Sydney Rabbitohs

Another interesting inclusion to the Blues squad is Rabbitohs star Campbell Graham.

Following a 500-day hiatus due to multiple injuries, it was questioned whether Graham had walked under a ladder or crossed paths with a black cat.

He was picked in the 2023 squad before a sternum injury quashed his dreams of an Origin debut.

His luck has seemed to take a dramatic turn, however, as he puts those frustrating days behind him.

Yet to make his Origin debut, the 25-year-old has been named 18th man for the series opener while also being on standby for Stephen Crichton who is nursing a groin complaint.

Since returning from injury this season, Graham has hit the ground running. He recorded 174m and three offloads in the NRL season opener against the Dolphins and appears to be getting fitter each week.

On the weekend he proved yet again why he was reliable under pressure when he came up with an epic last gasp try saver to prevent Tigers clawing back the win.

Nathan Cleary - Penrith Panthers

Egos won’t get in the way with Blues halves Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses embracing their new combination and while they both bring incredible attributes to the game it’s their kicking strengths I’m most excited about.

The Maroons never go down without a fight and inevitably there will be some poor sets from the Blues.

Cleary, despite having been a part of three series-winning Blues teams, still is yet to be regarded as an Origin great after dominating every other aspect of the game.

How he and Moses share the playmaking and kicking duties will be fascinating.

Moses will likely do more of the long kicking to get the Blues out of trouble and Cleary will likely then use his pinpoint accuracy by foot when NSW are in the red zone. How the Maroons combat the impact of this pair will dictate the series outcome.

The Maroons

Robert Toia - Sydney Roosters

Officially the least experienced Maroons selection in 30 years, Toia will be keen to prove that his young age doesn’t equal immaturity.

After only 10 NRL games the youngster has earned his Origin debut barely halfway through his rookie season, something than many players spend their whole careers working towards.

Ben Ikin was called up for the 1995 series after just four games so Toia could be a good omen as the Maroons clean swept NSW that year led by coach Paul Vautin with a side labelled the worst in the State’s history.

Toia’s 10 NRL games have not come easily with the 20-year-old enduring not one but two ACL ruptures.

Slater has seen enough to draft him in the Maroons backline, moving Valentine Holmes to the wing to accommodate the fresh talent.

If this doesn’t scream “world class centre in the making”, I don’t know what does. We will know soon enough if he has what it takes as he faces off against superstar Latrell Mitchell, who, suffice to say, is playing pretty well at present.

Xavier Coates - Melbourne Storm

Known for the greatest try finishes of all time, Coates is one of the NRL’s premier wingers. This season he has scored 10 tries in 10 appearances.

The high-flyer averages 150m per game and in last year’s Origin he reached a top speed of 34.2kph.

If the excitement, thrill and raw talent of Origin could be bundled up into a player, it’s Coates.

Look for Daly Cherry-Evans to get the ball into the air in his corner as often as possible.

Cameron Munster- Melbourne Storm

Munster has taken Origin by storm from his very first game in 2018 and has gone on to put in countless memorable performances.

He was sorely missed in last year’s series defeat and would have been the first name on Slater’s list this year.

The Queensland five-eighth’s groin and hip injuries last year raised the spectre his impressive 18-game Origin career could be over. But fear not Maroons fans, he is back better than ever.

Never far from a scrap and possessing sublime skills with the bal, he is one of the most frustrating players to play against and one of the most thrilling to watch.

This bloke is Origin intensity in a nutshell.

In true Munster form, he’s made a dramatic change in 2025.

After giving up drinking due to some serious off-field issues, he has now also deleted Uber Eats from his phone and is doing his own cooking.

The lack of booze and fast food in his diet is evident with a 4kg lighter Munster tearing up the turf.

Munster has reduced the amount of inflammation in his body so much so that he doesn’t take anti-inflammatories any more.

It’s impressive what a bit of TLC can do for us.

Facing a talent-packed Blues outfit the Maroons will be relying on Munster to produce some of his trademark magic at Suncorp Stadium to snag a surprise opening game win.