Queensland's Cameron Munster and Murray Taulagi have been ruled out of Wednesday's State of Origin decider after returning COVID-positive PCR tests.
Munster and Taulagi returned positive RATs on Friday night and had been isolating from their Maroons teammates as they awaited the results of PCR tests
They came back positive on Saturday morning.
Munster has not played at club level for Melbourne since before State of Origin II in Perth, where he suffered a shoulder injury.
The loss of Munster is a big blow for the Maroons, with Ben Hunt the likeliest option as a replacement in the Queensland halves alongside Daly Cherry-Evans, pushing Harry Grant into the starting side at hooker.
Munster has not missed an Origin match since his debut in the corresponding game back in 2017.
Taulagi debuted in Queensland's defeat in Perth in Game II after narrowly making the side ahead of Oates.
Oates has extensive experience in the Origin arena, playing in eight matches and scoring three tries from 2016 to 2019.
NSW Blues utility Nicho Hynes tested positive earlier in the week and was replaced in the extended squad by North Queensland's Chad Townsend.
The Blues have experienced some turmoil of their own after prop Jordan McLean was ruled out of the decider after suffering a hamstring injury at training on Thursday.
Newcastle's Jacob Saifiti was called into the squad as McLean's replacement.
AAP/ABC
