Billy Slater to name 2026 Queensland squad at 9am Monday — Qld State Of Origin Team 2026

qld state of origin team 2026 will be named by Billy Slater at 9am on Monday, with the Queensland coach set to settle his Game 1 side after Tom Dearden was ruled out last week. The injury has turned the halfback spot into the major selection call for the Origin opener.

Dearden out of the picture

Dearden suffered a serious ankle injury last week and was ruled out of contention for the Origin opener. That leaves Queensland looking at a different halfback for Game 1, with the decision now down to Slater and his staff before the morning announcement.

Daly Cherry-Evans, Sam Walker and Jake Clifford have been listed as possible options for the role. Slater does not have to wait much longer to settle it, with the team due at 9am on Monday.

Slater’s Monday call

The timing leaves Queensland with one clear handover point before the series opener. Once the side is named, the focus shifts to which halfback Slater has chosen to run the attack in Game 1.

said it would have the team when it drops.

For Maroons supporters, the answer arrives Monday morning: the lineup, the halfback call, and the shape of Queensland’s Origin opener all come together at 9am.