New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has unveiled his team for the 2023 State of Origin opener.
The team includes three debutants in Tevita Pangai Junior, Nicho Hynes and Hudson Young. They are among eight faces named in this team who didn't play game three last year.
Josh Addo-Carr has also been recalled, as has Latrell Mitchell. A hat-trick against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon was enough to secure Tom Trbojevic's place in the side. He missed last year's series due to injury.
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Tyson Frizell and Payne Haas are the other two recalled to the squad.
Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham has been named as 18th man.
Speaking on Nine's Today, Fittler said the decision to choose Api Koroisau over Damien Cook was tough.
"I think going down to the last couple of weeks, Api's form and his relationship with the players in the team has been long," Fittler said.
"Cooky has been in such good form and giving him a phone call last night and having a chat to him, he reassured me if anything happened, he's our man if anything goes wrong."
The Blues will take on Queensland on Wednesday week at Adelaide Oval.

BLUES ORIGIN I TEAM
Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights)
Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
Nicho Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers)
Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tevita Pangai Junior (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
James Tedesco (c) (Sydney Roosters)
Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)
Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
18th player – Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
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