Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has capped a Clive Churchill Medal-winning performance in the NRL grand final with selection in the New South Wales State of Origin squad.
Key points:Papenhuyzen is among three Storm players selected in the Blues squadPanthers players Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Stephen Crichton and Isaah Yeo were also included by Blues selectorsFive of the Storm’s grand final-winning team were named in the Maroons squad, with the Panthers’ Kurt Capewell also selected
Papenhuyzen showed why he deserved selection in the Blues’ 27-man squad when he produced a scintillating second-half try in the Storm’s 26-20 win over Penrith at Sydney’s Olympic stadium on Sunday night.
He will be joined Storm teammates Josh Addo-Carr and Dale Finucane in the Blues squad, while Panthers quartet Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Stephen Crichton and Isaah Yeo were also included ahead of the Origin series opener in Adelaide on November 4.
Five Storm players were rewarded with selection in the Queensland State of Origin squad, including potential debutants Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Brenko Lee.
Cameron Munster, prop Christian Welch and Felise Kaufusi were also named by Maroons selectors.
The Panthers had one player, back rower Kurt Capewell, selected in Wayne Bennett’s 27-man squad.
Played at the end of the season for the first time, the three-match State of Origin series will be contested over subsequent weeks in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane.
The second match of the series will be played at the Olympic stadium on November 11, while Lang Park will host the finale a week later.
Blues squad:
Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne), Nathan Brown (Parramatta), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta), Nathan Cleary (Penrith), Damien Cook (South Sydney), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Nick Cotric (Canberra), Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Stephen Crichton (Penrith), Dale Finucane (Melbourne), Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra), Clint Gutherson (Parramatta), Payne Haas (Brisbane), Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters), Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra), Jarome Luai (Penrith), Cameron McInnes (St George Illawarra), Cameron Murray (South Sydney), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne), Junior Paulo (Parramatta), Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Jake Trbojevic (Manly), Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters), Cody Walker (South Sydney), Jack Wighton (Canberra), Isaah Yeo (Penrith)
Maroons squad:
Jai Arrow (Gold Coast), AJ Brimson (Gold Coast), Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast), Phillip Sami (Gold Coast), Edrick Lee (Newcastle), Hymel Hunt (Newcastle), Valentine Holmes (North Queensland), Coen Hess (North Queensland), Xavier Coates (Brisbane), Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane), Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra), Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra), Harry Grant (Wests Tigers / Melbourne), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly), Jake Friend (Sydney Roosters), Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters), Jaydn Su’A (South Sydney), Corey Allan (South Sydney), Dane Gagai (South Sydney), Dunamis Lui (Canberra), Kurt Capewell (Penrith), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Melbourne), Brenko Lee (Melbourne), Cameron Munster (Melbourne), Christian Welch (Melbourne), Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne)
AAP/ABC
Source:: ABC News
