Three stunning axings that could rock Origin as Slater, Daley mull burning selection questions

We are one month away from kick-off in the 2025 State of Origin series, and both Queensland and New South Wales have a number of question marks over selection.

Injuries and form continue to muddy the waters as head coaches Billy Slater and Laurie Daley mull their options.

These are the biggest questions, and the potential answers to emerge over the coming three weeks before squads are picked.

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IS PONGA A SHOO-IN FOR THE NO.1 SPOT?

It appeared to be a race between Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh to Queensland's fullback spot, but Walsh will now miss the series opener due to injury.

It makes sense, then, that the jersey is Ponga's.

But Newcastle has been in awful form over the past month and while Ponga isn't the reason for that, his own stocks have plummeted as a result.

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On Wide World of Sports' QLDER last week, Maroons legend Darren Lockyer threw up Jye Gray and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as potential options for Billy Slater in the No.1 jersey.

Tabuai-Fidow will be in the team somewhere - likely at centre or potentially a wing - but has played plenty of fullback at club level, and is an out-and-out game breaker capable of scoring long-range solo tries.

Gray is a Maroons bolter after his efforts in the job for South Sydney in the early rounds of this season.

While he doesn't have the highlights reel Tabuai-Fidow or Ponga has, he is certainly a safe option who can do a job if asked.

Selwyn Cobbo must also be considered, given he has now won all three games with the Broncos that he's filled in as fullback.

CAN BLUES SQUEEZE THREE INTO TWO?

The most intriguing task for returning Blues coach Laurie Daley is what to do with his halves for game one.

Nathan Cleary would normally be considered a lock for the No.7 jersey but his Panthers have lost six of seven games this season and the halfback looks to be in a slump.

Adding to the confusion is the sudden and unexpected return of Mitchell Moses from a foot problem.

Moses was a star for the Blues last year and he has bounced straight back to form, guiding the Eels to victory against the Tigers on Easter Monday.

Andrew Johns believes Moses and Cleary could play side by side for the Blues, but Phil Gould doubts that combination could work, given they are both dominant playmakers who spend most of their time marshalling their right edge.

Jarome Luai is the obvious selection at No.6, and is a left edge player, but Moses could theoretically wear that jumper if NSW desperately want him in the team, and if Daley doesn't want to pull the trigger on Cleary.

The bolter could be Isaiya Katoa, who is in tremendous form for the Dolphins and is considered a future Blues halfback.

It would be an astonishing call from Daley to insert Katoa into the role above Cleary and Moses.

IS TEDDY HEADED FOR A RECALL?

The other position of intrigue for NSW is fullback.

Dylan Edwards is the incumbent but has struggled for form this season as his Panthers sit bottom of the ladder.

Roosters veteran and former Blues captain James Tedesco has been in impressive form for the Chooks and would no doubt be a contender in the mind of Daley.

Tedesco was fullback under Daley last time he coached the Blues. He was a surprise axing from new coach Michael Maguire last year, before being recalled for game one following an Edwards injury.

The other options would be Tom Trbojevic or Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Papenhuyzen is yet to play Origin and has been riddled with injuries in recent years, but has speed to burn and has been in sizzling form this season.

Trbojevic is a superstar who has broken Origin games apart in the past, but has typically been used as a centre who roams infield during attacking sets.

He is arguably the best fullback in the game - when fit - and could yet play his way into the Blues No.1 jumper over the coming three weeks.

His return for Manly in round eight inspired an upset win over the Panthers, proving how influential he is to the team's results.

WOULD QUEENSLAND ACTUALLY AXE THE SKIPPER?

The simple answer to this is... well, probably not.

The suggestion was raised on Sydney radio last week and there has been no rumblings out of Queensland camp that Daly Cherry-Evans is in danger of being axed.

But the theory was Tom Dearden needs a spot in the Maroons side, and Cameron Munster will almost certainly reclaim the No.6 jumper.

If those two were to play in the halves, it would leave the skipper without a role.

Munster and Dearden are both left-side dominant players at club level and so that will count against picking them as a combination.

This is purely conjecture... and we would be stunned if Cherry-Evans was actually left out.

If Cherry-Evans is retained as expected, Dearden would potentially be in a battle with Ben Hunt to wear the No.14 jersey for the Maroons.

BUT WOULD THE BLUES?

The much more likely case is that winning captain Jake Trbojevic is cut from the Blues side.

Some questioned Michael Maguire's decision to hand Trbojevic the captaincy for last year's series, given there are better front-rowers in the game.

But no one can question Trbojevic's passion and leadership, and for that reason Maguire made it official.

Trbojevic played all three games at prop for the Blues last year but is in danger of being shuffled out by the likes of Mitchell Barnett, Spencer Leniu, Daniel Saifiti, and now even Terrell May who is in hot form for the Tigers.

WILL SPENCER BE THROWN STRAIGHT INTO THE FRAY?

If Daley wants to throw a match straight onto the Origin fire he needs only do one thing - put Leniu on the field to start game one.

The Roosters prop is public enemy No.1 in Queensland after picking a war with Maroons icon Johnathan Thurston.

Leniu confronted Thurston during a game in Brisbane early this season, supposedly unhappy with public comments the latter made during Leniu's racism scandal last year.

If the Queensland forwards weren't already salivating at the idea of belting Blues prop Leniu, they must now be champing at the bit.

He had an impressive Origin debut series last year but will no doubt be at the centre of fireworks this time around.

Having said that, he is typically best used as a bench impact player.

IS MARKY MARK A GENUINE BOLTER?

Blues legend Andrew Johns over the weekend threw up Mark Nawaqanitawase as a NSW bolter.

The 24-year-old has played rugby at the highest level for Australia, and is now available for the Blues and Kangaroos after jumping ship to the Roosters.

While he hasn't set the NRL on fire just yet, the convert has shown some promising signs for the Chooks, particularly his athleticism and ability to compete in the air.

He could be an answer to Queensland's tall wing options in Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo.

Zac Lomax was a revelation on the wing for the Blues last year but is racing the clock to be fit for game one, as is the other winger Brian To'o.

Nawaqanitawase suddenly appears a genuine contender to wear the No.2 or No.5 jumper and make a stunning Origin debut in his first full season of professional league.