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Mitchell Pearce has been the butt of jokes when it comes to State of Origin but the veteran half-back will get a chance of redemption with New South Wales after Nathan Cleary was ruled out of game three because of injury.
Key points:
- Mitchell Pearce has not played State of Origin since 2017 and has never been a member of a series-winning squad
- He will come into a Blues squad looking to claim back-to-back Origin series in the deciding third match
- Corey Norman has been named to start for Queensland in his Origin debut
Pearce has never been a member of a series-winning squad in seven attempts and he was recalled to the Blues squad on Wednesday when Cleary failed to recover from an ankle injury he sustained in Origin II.
The 30-year-old will team up with former Sydney Roosters teammate James Maloney in the series decider in Sydney on July 10, ending his two-year exile from the squad as the Blues attempt to win back-to-back titles for the first time since 2005.
Pearce was savaged in the court of public opinion during the Queensland reign of dominance from 2006 onwards for his inability to secure a series win.
After debuting in Origin at 19 when he was hailed as the future of the Blues, he was a part of losing sides in 2008, 2010-13, 2015 and 2017.
Since 2006, the Blues have won just two series — in 2014 and 2018 — with Pearce left out both years.
During the Maroons' game three victory in 2017, Queensland great Johnathan Thurston famously joked Pearce should get a photo with the Wally Lewis statue outside Lang Park in Brisbane because that would be "the closest he's going to get to holding the [Origin] shield".
Pearce's return to the Origin arena was met with a mixed response on Twitter.
Pearce was in consideration for the opening two matches of the series but was forced to step aside because of groin injuries.
Cleary on Wednesday ran for the first time since going down in Origin II, watched on by Blues medical staff.
It was initially feared he had suffered a syndesmosis injury, but was diagnosed with a high-grade anterior ligament tear and is expected to miss up to four weeks.
Norman to start for Maroons in Origin debut
Queensland coach Kevin Walters finally confirmed his starting line-up more than 48 hours after unveiling his squad, naming Corey Norman at pivot and Cameron Munster at full-back.
Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans said he was excited about combining in the halves with debutant Norman in the series decider in Sydney.
"He has fit right into the group, it's exciting," Cherry-Evans said.
"I have watched him firsthand as an opposition player pick apart a team. If he backs himself we are going to be in for a good night.
"All the best players want the footy at crunch time and Corey has done that over the years for different [NRL] clubs.
"If we are in a situation where it is tight in the end we have more than one person who is going to be willing to put their hand up and try and help this team win a game of footy."
Cherry-Evans believed the Blues would be nervous about Munster shifting to full-back.
"Every time Cam Munster has worn the number one jersey for any side he has done a really good job," he said.
"The fact that he is not just pigeonholed to the left-hand side of the field is going to mean dramas for New South Wales."
ABC/AAP
Topics: sport, rugby-league, state-of-origin, nrl, sydney-2000, newcastle-2300
First posted