Cooper Cronk back in Queensland side for Origin III
Monday 29 June 2015 09:13, UK
Cooper Cronk's return from injury means no place for Daly Cherry-Evans in the Queensland squad for the State of Origin decider.
Half-back Cronk missed the 26-18 defeat by New South Wales earlier this month with a knee injury, after having scored the winning point for the Maroons in the opening game.
Cherry-Evans started the second match but is omitted completely from Mal Meninga's squad, with the versatile Michael Morgan retaining his place on the bench.
"(It was a) tough decision obviously, we feel that at this point, being a decider, Michael was the best option," Meninga said.
"He plays more positions simple as that. Billy (Slater) is out, so we are down an outside back, Michael can fill in at fullback there and put Greg (Inglis) back to the centres.
"It was a tough decision and not something we like to make, but think we have made the right one."
New South Wales will announce their team on Tuesday, with hooker Robbie Farah in doubt with a broken hand sustained over the weekend.
Queensland: Greg Inglis; Darius Boyd, Will Chambers, Justin Hodges, Dane Gagai; Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk; Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), Nate Myles; Aidan Guerra, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker.
Interchange: Michael Morgan, Josh Papalii, Matt Gillett, Jacob Lillyman. (18th man: Edrick Lee)
