SEN NRL expert and Queensland Maroons assistant coach Cameron Smith has given insight into the handful of changes from a winning side in Game I.
Maroons coach Billy Slater was forced to make three big changes with injuries to Selwyn Cobbo, Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert opening the door for Jeremiah Nanai, Xavier Coates and Moe Fotuaika to make their returns to the Origin arena.
The most contentious of these selections was in the back row, with many calling for Felise Kaufusi to return to the squad despite not playing a game in over four weeks due to suspension.
With Nanai having an inconsistent start to the season, Smith opened up on why the selection felt he was a better option as opposed to the experienced Kaufusi.
“In the situation of Felise Kaufusi, who’s been there and done it before, it’s just a lack of football,” Smith told SENQ Breakfast.
“There’s just no other reason that you can come up with to say why he’s not here, he just hasn’t played enough games.
“So that was the reason why Jeremiah Nanai got another opportunity, he was fantastic against the Storm.”
Nanai’s shaky start to the season came to a standstill with a three-week suspension handed down in Round 4, a time in which Slater reached out to the backrower to help regain his form.
“I think he was actually challenged by Billy with that time that he spent off the field,” Smith added.
“I think Billy made a phone call to him and said, ‘You need to get yourself in shape, you need to spend this time away from the footy field, freshen up, get fit, come back and I want to see some energy about your football’.
“He did that, he did what he was asked to do, and he responded well.”
Smith also praised Moe Fotuaika for his improvement in working his way back into the team and how his connection with Titans teammate Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will help the Maroons in attack.
“Guy like Moe Fotuaika, if you seen the game last week, the Titans versus the Tigers, he was fantastic, the football that he’s playing this year is as good football as he’s played in his career,” Smith said.
“He’s represented Queensland on five occasions, so he knows what it’s all about and he’s fought his way back in, the partnership the he and particularly he and Tino have at the Titans has been great.
“He’s averaging something like 160 metres a game, His work rate is fantastic, he gets through a lot of defence, and he carries the ball strong, it’s a great mixture for our footy side at the moment.”