Pat Carrigan has dismissed concerns a facial laceration will leave him in doubt for the State of Origin series opener, declaring himself ready to avenge last year’s series defeat.

The Broncos star sent a scare to Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater when he was seen bleeding profusely from his lip during his side’s defeat to the Dragons, with the man himself admitting he only became concerned when his St George-Illawarra rivals began exclaiming at its severity.

He went to hospital on Sunday night to receive treatment – 30 stitches, “and a few extras in there in case I cop a bump” – and was adamant the ordeal would have no barring on his ability to line up in his favoured lock position.

“I’m good to go, provided Bill doesn’t change his mind. It was just a head clash at the end of the game, so I got the jaw sussed out in the sheds, and they were pretty happy,” Carrigan said.

“Bill rang me, and he wanted to keep hearing me talk because he thought it was funny that I couldn’t talk properly. There was blood everywhere, and it wasn’t until the Dragons boys were freaking out and saying it was bad I went up the tunnel.

Loading

“Lucky I had a mouth guard in; otherwise I’d have a few missing teeth and an angry mother. It was pretty gross, I think everyone’s seen the video now of my lip hanging off a bit.

“If it gets a knock, it’s going to get a knock, so I’ll try and stay out of the earlier stuff with whatever the contact component there is, but when we’re live and next Wednesday all bets are off.”

Carrigan admits memories of last year’s decider still burn deep, while revealing Broncos’ teammate Payne Haas would be in no doubt for the Blues despite sustaining a minor quad issue.

Queensland were forced to defend their line valiantly in game three – making 98 more tackles than the Blues, who physically dominated the contest for post-contact metres (581 to 411) and offloads (18 to eight) to ensure 67 per cent of the game was played in Maroons’ territory.

But with Tino Fa’asuamealui making his Origin return, Carrigan was adamant the group assembled had the tools to overturn last year’s narrative.

“It was at this stadium where I’d been a part of some pretty good deciders – 2022 I was on the right side of one, and last year I was on the wrong side of one, so I’m always going to remember those things,” Carrigan said.

“The proof is in the pudding I guess, they won the series, so we’re always going to be ridiculed in that area I think – as a Queensland team it’s been that way since day dot.

“I know these guys who have been picked are going to be well and truly ready to mix it, and last year is still on my mind so we’ve got some wrongs to right.”