Jeremiah Nanai has vowed to repay the faith Maroons coach Billy Slater has shown in him with a State of Origin campaign that has come at the expense of Gold Coast wrecking ball David Fifita.
Nanai and Jaydn Su'a, who will play their first Queensland match since 2021, were selected at the back in favor of Fifita, who issued a final reminder to Slater of his credentials on the eve of his squad announcement .
Jeremiah Nanai has kept his place in the Maroons side.Credit: Getty
The Titan was dominating with the ball as his side defeated the Brisbane Broncos 36-34 – running for 230m and five tackles while making a couple of try assists – but it wasn't enough to vindicate your claim.
Meanwhile, Nanai has regained the try-scoring form that made him a rookie revelation with the Cowboys. The 21-year-old, who has crossed the white stripe seven times in his last five appearances for North Queensland, said knowing Fifita would be salivating at the prospect of getting the jumper back for his Maroons was incentive enough to produce the best performance of his career.
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“I'm very honored and grateful to get this call from Billy and that he knows he can trust me on the back end,” Nanai said.
“Dave and Jaydn, they've been there and done that before me, and knowing that I'm ahead, I'm very confident, comfortable and grateful to be a part of it.
“I had a slow start [to the season] I will say, but I'm starting to find my feet again, and I'm still working on some things … but I feel confident and I feel good about finding my form again.”
Slater kept his cards close to his chest when he suggested there were “standards” Fifita had failed to meet, suggesting the nuances had cost him his place.
