EXCLUSIVE: Darren Lockyer Explores Maroons Selectors’ ‘Phone Conference’ Amid Injury Woes

Queensland icon Darren Lockyer has shed light on the frantic state of the selection panel’s discussions on Sunday night, as injuries began to plague several key players.

Typically, State of Origin selectors wait until the completion of the round to finalise their squad. However, this weekend brought unexpected challenges for the Maroons.

Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi and Dolphins back-rower Tom Gilbert were both set to feature but sustained injuries during round 11, leading to their exclusion from the team.

In addition, there was concern regarding Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo, who sustained a wrist injury in his team’s recent loss to the Dragons, casting doubt on his fitness for selection.

With all these variables hanging in the balance, Lockyer, along with Gene Miles and Billy Slater, were faced with significant decisions ahead of the squad announcement scheduled for Monday morning.

Ultimately, the Maroons included three debutants in their selection – Robert Toia, Trent Loiero, and Beau Fermor – along with other uncapped players in the expanded squad.

During an interview on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER, the former captain and current selector shared insights into the chaotic selection process.

“It’s a merged phone call,” Lockyer explained.

“We needed to wait until the 4pm game had concluded, since the Titans were in action. We were considering players from the Souths match as well. By 6pm, we typically have a discussion to assess the situation.”

“The first step is to update who is unable to play… we begin with the injuries and go through the team from positions 1-20. As I mention every week, we simply want everyone to remain fit and healthy, but this weekend we lost a few,” Lockyer added.

“You have a secondary list of players, so if something goes awry, they are the next in line. One player’s disappointment becomes an opportunity for another.”

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“We’ve lost Murray (Taulagi), Cobbo is dealing with several minor injuries, and Gilbert went down – he would have been in the team. He’s exactly what you want for State of Origin,” Lockyer expressed.

“It’s certainly disappointing for Tom, especially with this being a long-term injury, but it opens up an opportunity for someone like Beau Fermor.” 

Gilbert’s injury is particularly severe, with the Dolphins player missing more time than he has played since the 2023 series due to shoulder and knee concerns.

Expectations are that the 24-year-old will be out of action for three months with a torn pectoral muscle, ruling him out for the entire series but leaving the possibility of a late-season return open.

Meanwhile, Taulagi is also anticipated to miss the rest of the year due to a calf injury that could sideline him for around six weeks.

On a more positive note, Cobbo has been cleared of a fractured wrist and could rejoin the Brisbane campaign by round 13, allowing him to potentially feature later in the series.