Queensland has been dealt a major blow ahead of the State of Origin series finale, with Cameron Munster and Murray Taulagi both likely to miss the match after failing COVID-19 tests.
The superstar five-eighth and rookie winger have returned positive RAT tests and are now awaiting the results of PCR tests.
Both players are isolating from the rest of the camp and will be ruled out of the Origin decider if their PCR tests are positive.
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Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden, who was 18th man earlier in the series, is likely to get the nod to replace Munster, while Brisbane’s Corey Oates has been added to the squad as cover for Taulagi.
Queensland State of Origin selector Darren Lockyer said the news of Munster’s absence a “huge blow”, but still backed the Maroons to get up at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.
“I still think they can win it in front of our home crowd, but it’ll take a bigger effort now,” he told 9News Queensland.
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“Tom Dearden has been in camp with the Queensland players the last two games … and Corey Oates will get a shot on the left wing.”
Queensland and New South Wales will battled for State of Origin supremacy in the series-finale at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
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