July 2, 2026 — 3:25pmQueensland Maroons ironman Pat Carrigan has declared himself fully fit to contest the State of Origin series decider, completing a miraculous comeback from a foot injury that threatened his campaign.The Brisbane Broncos lock will take his place on the bench as named, after Lindsay Collins was ruled out due to a concussion suffered last week while playing for the Sydney Roosters.Pat Carrigan trains with the Maroons.GettyIt was believed Carrigan would take no further part than game one of the series, having undergone surgery on a syndesmosis injury which was expected to keep him sidelined for at least six weeks after last playing in his club’s round 13 defeat to the Dragons.But after partaking in the full Maroons training session on the Sunshine Coast opposing the Gold Coast Titans, Carrigan revealed he was certain to play his part in the game three decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 8.“I’m 100 per cent ready to go, I did all the session today and felt really confident, and I’ll have another run on the weekend,” Carrigan said.“Obviously, I’m four weeks off the op [operation], so there are a few things I need to get right. I’ve ticked off a lot of boxes and had a good hit out against the Titans boys too, so I feel really healthy and ready to go.Lindsay collins will miss Origin III due to injury.Getty Images“From the moment I did it, I kind of set a goal for five weeks to Origin three and put myself in a position to not only be available, but if I were to play, be able to do a job for the boys.”New South Wales have copped some criticism throughout the series for picking players with lingering injury concerns and limited NRL exposure under their belts – most notable the decision to usher in five-eighth Mitchell Moses as he continued to overcome a hamstring concern having not played for Parramatta since round 11.But Carrigan dismissed any concerns for his own ability to perform as he had before his setback, declaring he would be ready to play 80-minutes if required after Maroons coach Billy Slater had consulted with medical staff before calling the 28-year-old.“I’m confident in the rehab process and everything that I’ve done, and I’ve made sure that I’ve hit extra conditioning and all those sorts of things,” Carrigan said.“I’ve ticked all the boxes, and I wouldn’t put myself in a position to let my teammates down or my state down. I’m well aware I’ve got a job to do, and that’s to perform on Wednesday night.”Carrigan in action for the Broncos in round 10.Getty ImagesCarrigan’s return also comes a time when his club need the best of their marquee lock, with the Broncos’ seven-game losing streak now compounded by the official loss of rookie prop Ben Te Kura.Te Kura was granted six weeks of leave from Red Hill in April to pursue an NFL opportunity on the Gold Coast, with the Broncos confirming he had been released from his contract and would continue his pursuit of his American dream in Arizona from 2027.Ben Te Kura will pursue an NFL career next season.Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos“I’m very grateful to the Broncos for everything they’ve done to support me in pursuing an opportunity in the NFL,” Te Kura said.“Making my NRL debut for the Broncos against the Storm in 2024 was such an unbelievable moment for myself and my family. I owe the club so much for the faith they’ve had in me right from day one.”Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.More:State of OriginQueensland MaroonsNSW BluesNRL 2026NRL 2026NRL injury wardBrisbane BroncosSydney RoostersFrom our partners