Broncos youngster Thomas Flegler is likely to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland as a replacement for Jai Arrow after Arrow's COVID-19 breach.
Arrow was hit with a breach notice from the NRL for failing to comply with the league's protocols, when he brought an "unregistered guest" into the Maroons' hotel on the Gold Coast ahead of Origin III.
The 25-year-old has five days to respond to the breach notice which proposes a $35,000 fine, as well as a two-game suspension. He will be force to isolate for the next 14 days as a result of the breach of the NRL's biosecurity protocols.
Following Arrow's omission from the team, Queensland assistant Johnathan Thurston revealed that the 21-year-old Flegler was "more than likely" to come into Paul Green's team for the Origin finale.
"It's obviously a great opportunity for him," Thurston told 4BC. "I'm sure it's probably a childhood dream to represent the Maroons so he gets his opportunity."
Flegler gets his chance after an inexplicable brain snap from Arrow which comes off the back of the Dragons' now infamous house party that breached NSW's stay at home orders and resulted in the mid-week sacking of Paul Vaughan.
Arrow was slammed for his own breach by league greats Paul Gallen and Andrew Johns who were left baffled by his decision-making, with Gallen suggesting the Queenslander got off lightly.
"Unbelievable. Stupid. What a silly thing to do with the week we have had," Gallen told Nine.
"He's a good guy Jai Arrow, I know him, I know his dad. But what a silly, silly mistake.
"To be fined $35,000 and lose his match payment, and serve a two-game suspension from the NRL – I've got to say, I will be grabbing that with both hands because I think he's gotten off a little bit lightly there considering the week we've had with the Dragons players.
"It's just a dumb, dumb thing to do considering the week we've had. Really stupid."
"You just can't believe it really," Johns added.
"[Queensland is] in that predicament where they are two-nil down. Where they have struggled has been in the middle – containing the forwards of New South Wales and they (Queensland) lose one of their best forwards. You just shake your head."
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