LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Maroons forward Kurt Capewell appears to be omitted from the Queensland squad for State of Origin 1, as he was seen boarding a flight back to New Zealand on Sunday.
Queensland coach Billy Slater reportedly informed Capewell of his exclusion, leading to speculation given that Capewell, who played for the Warriors against the Dolphins in Brisbane on Saturday, would likely remain in Queensland if he had been selected.
Reports indicate that Slater's Maroons squad will convene in Queensland following the team announcement on Monday.
It seems improbable that Capewell would fly to New Zealand only to return within a day, which further aligns with the idea of his exclusion from the squad.
Capewell participated in the second and third matches of last year's Origin series, in which Queensland lost 2-1 to NSW.
He spent Game 2 on the bench before starting as a second-rower in the decider, but his contributions were minimal, leading to criticism of Slater's decision to include the 31-year-old veteran again.
Although Capewell was not initially in the mix for selection this year, the injury to Tom Gilbert opened the door for a potential return.
Gilbert, expected to start in the second-row, is now ruled out due to a pec injury.
Given Capewell's 10 games of Origin experience and his versatility in playing both back-row and center positions, some believed he might reclaim a spot in the lineup after Gilbert's injury.
However, AAP reporter Joel Gould confirmed Capewell's flight from Brisbane airport effectively eliminates him from consideration, stating, "Unless a spate of injuries today he won't be coming back."