Queensland skipper Greg Inglis will watch his men attempt to avoid an embarrassing series whitewash at Suncorp Stadium from the sidelines with a broken thumb suffered in South Sydney's Round 16 win over North Queensland. The news has delayed the Maroons' team announcement with the Queensland brains trust needing to go back to the selection table to decide on a replacement in a chaotic last hour debacle. Maroons fans - There may be a slight delay to tonight's planned 7pm team announcement. We will have it to you as soon as possible. 🚩#QLDER #Origin #RugbyLeague #CampMaroon — Queensland Maroons (@QLDmaroons) July 1, 2018 Brisbane winger Corey Oates has been thrown up as a likely candidate, pushing Inglis' club centre partner Dane Gagai to the centres. MORE: Boyd Cordner doubtful for game three, Tariq Sims on track for Blues debut Inglis has been sent to hospital to have scans and could spend anywhere between four to eight weeks in recovery. The sliver lining is Billy Slater will coincidentally captain the Maroons for the first time in his career in his last ever Origin game. Queensland coach Kevin Walters is also chasing a replacement for Kalyn Ponga who has been sidelined for a month with a hamstring strain. His absence has breathed life into Daly Cherry-Evans' Origin career with the Manly skipper expected to be part of Queensland's plans in some capacity, with some reports inferring he may be a straight swap for the struggling Ben Hunt. But with an opening in the utility role, Hunt is in a four-way battle for a bench spot with Anthony Milford, Moses Mbye and Ashley Taylor who all delivered spectacular final auditions over the weekend. There is still an injury could over Roosters prop Dylan Napa who was forced to leave his side's loss to Melbourne on Friday with a knee injury just a week after overcoming an ankle issue. NSW are dealing with their own injury concerns with captain Boyd Cordner being given until the end of next week to overcome a calf strain picked up in their series-deciding win in Sydney. The team will now be announced on Monday morning.<doc-sep>Queensland's attempts to salvage some pride in the final 2018 State of Origin game have taken a further hit, with captain Greg Inglis ruled out with a broken thumb. The Queensland Rugby League announced it was delaying the naming of the Queensland team for the dead rubber at Lang Park on July 11 after Inglis injured his hand during South Sydney's last-gasp win over the North Queensland Cowboys in Cairns. The captain's injury came after young gun Kalyn Ponga was ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up during Newcastle's defeat by Canterbury on Saturday evening, and prop Dylan Napa left the field with a knee injury during the Sydney Roosters loss to the Melbourne Storm on Friday. The injury to Inglis opens the door for Queensland's departing fullback Billy Slater to captain the Maroons in his final representative match. New South Wales skipper Boyd Cordner is also under an injury cloud for the final match after also missing the Roosters' loss to Melbourne, but he was expected to be fit to play the final Origin match. The Blues claimed their first series victory since 2014 with a win in Sydney on June 24, and have the chance to become the first NSW team to claim a 3-0 sweep in 18 years with a victory in Brisbane.<doc-sep>Daly Cherry-Evans is set to get a recall to the Queensland side for Origin III. Picture: Darren England. DALY Cherry-Evans’ State of Origin exile is reportedly set to end, with the maligned playmaker to be named in the Queensland team for Origin III. Mutiple media outlets are reporting Cherry-Evans, who hasn’t played Origin since 2015, will be named at halfback with Ben Hunt to take over Kalyn Ponga’s bench spot following the young gun’s hamstring strain which will see him miss the deadrubber. LIVE Stream the 2018 State of Origin Series on Watch NRL. GRAB YOUR PASS NOW. The Maroons were set to unveil their game three team on Sunday night at 7pm, but the side will now be named “as late as the morning of Monday”, due to skipper Greg Inglis suffering a broken thumb. Inglis suffered the injury in South Sydney’s thrilling win over North Queensland on Sunday in Cairns. More headaches for Queensland. Greg Inglis holds his hand after being injured during the clash with the Cowboys. Source: Getty Images It’s a huge blow for coach Kevin Walters and the rest of the Maroons setup given how inspirational Inglis has been this Origin series after taking over the captaincy from Cameron Smith. Billy Slater is expected to replace Inglis as captain. It is a fitting honour for Maroons great Slater who will bow out from representative football after his 31st Origin. Front row enforcer Dylan Napa is also in doubt with a knee injury.<doc-sep>Billy Slater will captain Queensland in his State of Origin swansong as Greg Inglis' thumb injury piled on more misery for the Maroons, hoping to avoid a NSW whitewash at Suncorp Stadium. Inglis was an 11th hour withdrawal from the Queensland squad with a broken thumb - even delaying Queensland's trumpeted Sunday night announcement of their game three squad until Monday morning. Slater will take the captaincy reins in his 31st and final Origin clash. Billy Slater will captain Queensland in his State of Origin swansong. Credit:AAP It was another turbulent 24 hours for the Maroons as Inglis' withdrawal added to injuries suffered by Newcastle whiz kid Kalyn Ponga and Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa, who has been named 18th man.<doc-sep>
Billy Slater is set to be named captain of the Maroons for Game III. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) AHEAD of his final State of Origin, Billy Slater is set to be handed the Queensland captaincy for the first time. The Maroons are expected to confirm on Monday the veteran fullback will replace injured centre Greg Inglis (broken thumb) as skipper in July 11’s dead rubber in Brisbane. It is a fitting honour for Maroons great Slater who will bow out from representative football after his 31st Origin. LIVE Stream the 2018 State of Origin Series on Watch NRL. GRAB YOUR PASS NOW. But it remains to be seen whether an injury-hit Queensland can provide a fitting farewell for the 35-year-old. Queensland’s scheduled Sunday night game three team announcement was delayed until Monday after Inglis went down late in South Sydney’s 21-20 NRL win over North Queensland. He was sent to hospital for scans and soon ruled out of Origin III after being told he could be sidelined for four to six weeks. The bombshell came just hours after boom Maroons rookie Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) was ruled out of game three. And Sydney Roosters prop Dylan Napa (knee) may also be an Origin III scratching. QRL officials were left scrambling trying to find a replacement centre on Sunday night, forcing them to abandon their scheduled 7pm Sunday night team reveal via their website. “The scheduled naming of the Queensland State of Origin team for Game III of this year’s series has been delayed following a late injury to captain and centre Greg Inglis,” a QRL statement said. “Due to this unforeseen circumstance, naming of the team could be delayed possibly as late as the morning of Monday, July 2. “QRL Media apologises to fans on the delay, but will keep you updated as soon as the final team is confirmed.” The Maroons may push winger Dane Gagai into the centres with Will Chambers, and recall Brisbane winger Corey Oates for game three. Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans is reportedly set to replace Ben Hunt at halfback, ending three years in the Origin wilderness. Hunt is still in the Maroons mix as bench utility, replacing the injured Ponga. The loss of 32-Origin veteran Inglis is another blow to the battling Maroons as they try to send out Slater in style. They are trying to avoid only the fourth NSW series whitewash in Origin history and first since 2000. Queensland coach Kevin Walters faces his third-straight match plagued by injury dramas in a nightmare start to life without retired Maroons greats Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.