Slater picks four bolters in 34-man QLD pre-season squad as Origin threepeat plans ramp up

Slater picks four bolters in 34-man QLD pre-season squad as Origin threepeat plans ramp up

Queensland coach Billy Slater has named four uncapped players in his 34-man Maroons squad that will come together for a pre-season camp this weekend.

Broncos star five-eighth Ezra Mam, Roosters halfback Sam Walker, Titans backrower Beau Fermor and Cowboys forward Heilum Luki were all selected.

Mam, 21, enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 and was named in the Dally M Team of the Year before scoring a hat-trick in the grand final.

Watch sport this summer live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

Walker, 21, has already played 56 NRL games after bursting into the NRL as a teenager and was a part of Queensland’s 2022 squad for Game III.

Fermor, 25, has played for the PM’s XIII and was also part of the 2022 State of Origin series when he was picked in the Maroons squad for Game II.

Luki, 22, has plenty of natural ability and hit his straps over the past 12 months and made his international debut for Samoa at the end of last year.

Slater has won back-to-back series since taking over as coach in 2022 and Queensland are this year chasing their first threepeat since 2017.

Slater is bringing his pre-season squad together in Brisbane on Saturday to take part in a number of community activities.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to get our Queensland players together before the season starts,” Slater said.

Sam Walker, Billy Slater and Ezra Mam. GettySource: Getty Images

MORE NRL NEWS

FOUR YEAR NRL WILDERNESS: Dogs lifeline has ‘comeback kid’ ready to explode

‘IT’S A MENTAL THING’: Eels star admits career plagued by ‘inconsistency’ to date

‘PERFECT FIT FOR ME’: Fonua-Blake opens up on Sharks move, Warriors promise

‘NO CONFLICT’: Tigers boss denies wrongdoing over signing player managed by son

“Obviously the (NRL) training schedule in preparation for their season is quite tight, so to get them for this weekend is really important for their preparation into our series.

“We get to touch on a few things footy wise but more importantly we get to our players into our community.

“Both our players and the community will get a really big lift from the experience.”

Queensland Maroons pre-season squad:

Jai Arrow South Sydney Rabbitohs

AJ Brimson Gold Coast Titans

Kurt Capewell New Zealand Warriors

Pat Carrigan Brisbane Broncos

Daly Cherry-Evans Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Xavier Coates Melbourne Storm

Selwyn Cobbo Brisbane Broncos

Lindsay Collins Sydney Roosters

Reuben Cotter North Queensland Cowboys

Tom Dearden North Queensland Cowboys

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Gold Coast Titans

Beau Fermor Gold Coast Titans

David Fifita Gold Coast Titans

Thomas Flegler The Dolphins

Moeaki Fotuaika Gold Coast Titans

Dane Gagai Newcastle Knights

Burton unsure who halves partner will be | 01:16

MORE NRL NEWS

ORIGIN CHANGE: Smith quits as Slater’s assistant replaced by former Maroons hooker

OFF-SEASON CENTRAL: Ponga sits out All Stars to focus on Knights and Origin

TRANSFER CENTRE: Dogs forward’s saga finally over as captain granted release

PREDICTED RD 1 TEAMS: Dragons get creative, Bulldogs solve utility puzzle

Tom Gilbert The Dolphins

Harry Grant Melbourne Storm

Valentine Holmes North Queensland Cowboys

J’maine Hopgood Parramatta Eels

Corey Horsburgh Canberra Raiders

Ben Hunt St George Illawarra Dragons

Felise Kaufusi The Dolphins

Heilum Luki North Queensland Cowboys

Ezra Mam Brisbane Broncos

Cameron Munster Melbourne Storm

Jeremiah Nanai North Queensland Cowboys

Corey Oates Brisbane Broncos

Kalyn Ponga Newcastle Knights

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow The Dolphins

Murray Taulagi North Queensland Cowboys

Sam Walker Sydney Roosters

Reece Walsh Brisbane Broncos

Christian Welch Melbourne Storm