The Queensland Maroons camp has been rocked by the news Patrick Carrigan will miss Game 2 of the State of Origin series with an ankle injury sustained playing for the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday afternoon.
The shock loss for the Broncos, which was the first win of the year for the St George Illawarra Dragons, will leave plenty of question marks surrounding that club, but more immediately, Billy Slater will need to pick a replacement.
There are as many as six players he could lean on, with some requiring a slight strategy tweak for Carrigan's bench spot.
Here are the options.
4. Corey Horsburgh
If Billy Slater is looking for a like-for-like replacement with minimal disruption to his side, Corey Horsburgh shapes as one of the most straightforward options.
Much like Carrigan, Horsburgh is capable of playing both prop and lock, with that versatility making him an ideal candidate to fill the vacancy in Queensland's middle rotation.
While he has only played one State of Origin match, making his debut in Game Three, 2023, Horsburgh brings plenty of NRL experience.
The 28-year-old has continued to develop into one of Canberra's most important forwards, building a reputation for his physicality, dominance through the middle and defensive reliability.
He would provide the Maroons with added firepower while maintaining the tough, hard-working style that has become a hallmark of Carrigan's game.
His ability to bend the defensive line with strong carries and handle big workloads would make him a safe and proven option for a Queensland side looking to level the series.
