Queensland Maroons

A final call on Ponga's availability for the Maroons will be delayed until after the gun No.1 has a labral tear in his left shoulder assessed by a specialist, with Newcastle players undergoing end-of-season medicals on Tuesday.

Queensland are yet to name the initial members of their 27-man Origin squad and they will likely make that announcement later this week.

Titans livewire AJ Brimson looms as the most likely fullback replacement option if Ponga is unavailable, while Cameron Munster and Moses Mbye have also had plenty of experience at the back in previous NRL seasons.

Fa'asuamaleaui had a busy post-season at the end of 2019, going from a Storm finals campaign to the green and gold of the PM's XIII into a World Nines campaign with Samoa, back to green and gold with the Australian under-23s into a senior test debut with Toa Samoa. 

He also wore Queensland Maroon in the under-20s Origin in the middle of the year, and his impressive recent form has caught the eye of Maroons coach Kevin Walters.  

"Queensland is my first pick, 100%," Fa'asuamaleaui told NRL.com. 

Walters has been accused of everything from putting on an act to losing the plot since spruiking mind coach Bradley Charles Stubbs' philosophy in the lead-up to Wednesday's Origin I at Suncorp Stadium.

Gone is Queensland's much loved underdog tag.

Now Walters is telling anyone who will listen that the Maroons "will win" game one while stubbornly refusing to acknowledge who they are even playing.

It's in keeping with the lessons detailed in Stubbs' $5500 an hour "Expect to Win" sessions, where it is a big no no to say the rival's name.

The Maroons coach said debutants Moses Mbye, Joe Ofahengaue and David Fifita had earned their jerseys and would do the state proud as his eyes glazed over with the passion and emotion that has defined his tenure in charge of the Maroons.

Broncos forwards Ofahengaue and Fifita will come off the bench, as will Mbye with the Wests Tigers skipper beating Anthony Milford to the vital utility spot.

“I'm ready, we are ready. This is war,” Walters said.

1. Billy Slater
2. Valentine Holmes
3. Greg Inglis (c)
4. Will Chambers
5. Dane Gagai
6. Cameron Munster
7. Ben Hunt
8. Dylan Napa
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Jarrod Wallace
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Felise Kaufusi
13. Josh McGuire

Interchange:
14. Michael Morgan
15. Josh Papalii
16. Coen Hess
17. Jai Arrow

Coach: Kevin Walters

Awarded to the player of the series, Gagai became the first winger to win the award, breaking down in tears on stage as he accepted the honour.

It was well deserved, with Gagai clearly the best from either side for the series after running for a series-high 577 metres and scoring two tries across the three games.

Speaking to NRL.com in the dressing sheds after the match, Gagai said the award would be something he would always treasure.

"I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I haven’t really won anything like this before, especially at this level of football," Gagai said.

Thurston's State of Origin farewell has been ruined by a shoulder injury, with the 34-year-old missing what was set to be his last match in Maroon on Wednesday night. 

The season-ending injury was a cruel finish to a decorated Origin career that began way back in 2005 and included 36 straight matches for Queensland. 

Despite putting so much on the line for the Maroons over the years, the man many refer to as 'the GOAT' will not let Wednesday be about him, turning down the offer of a lap of honour before the match.