Ahead of the naming of Kevin Walters' first Queensland team next week, we in the NRL.com offices have come up with the Maroons side we would pick for State of Origin I.
Read on for who each NRL.com writer would pick and why, and see our combined Queensland 17 at the end of the article.
Tony Webeck, Chief Queensland Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Dane Gagai, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Justin O'Neill, 5 Corey Oates, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nate Myles, 11 Matt Gillett, 12 Gavin Cooper, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Josh McGuire, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Josh Papalii.
Three debutants for the Maroons in Game One but all three featured in last year's grand final and have shown they are not fazed by the big occasion. Corey Oates is the perfect prototype for an Origin winger, Justin O'Neill will benefit from a strong Cowboys influence and Gavin Cooper finally earns a long-awaited Queensland jersey. With McGuire, Thaiday and Papalii on the bench, the Maroons will have plenty of punch in the crucial periods of the game either side of half-time.
Chris Kennedy, National Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Justin O'Neill, 5 Dane Gagai, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Josh Maguire, 11 Matt Gillett, 12 Sam Thaiday, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Gavin Cooper, 16 Nate Myles, 17 Josh Papalii.
As usual with Queensland most of the team picks itself. With an injury-ravaged back five there were always going to be some debutants so I've gone for form man Corey Oates to debut along with Justin O'Neill, who is pretty much the last man standing at right centre. The recent Kangaroos Test plus NRL form this year dictates Darius Boyd gets the fullback jersey with Greg Inglis in the centres. Dane Gagai scrapes in after a great debut last year. Nate Myles has been in Queensland's best two or three players in virtually every win they've had in the past 10 years and is one of the most overlooked contributors to their decade of dominance, which is why he scrapes in despite being well down on form. Gavin Cooper gets a long-awaited and much-deserved rep jersey at the expense of Aidan Guerra who is another that has been below his best so far this year.
Martin Gabor, National Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Justin O'Neill, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Josh McGuire, 11 Josh Papalii, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Sam Thaiday, 16 Aidan Guerra, 17 Jacob Lillyman.
There's no point changing a winning formula; that is unless injury strikes. No Billy Slater or Will Chambers mean the Cowboys pairing of Justin O'Neill and Kyle Feldt can earn their Queensland debuts. O'Neill beats out incumbent Dane Gagai purely based on club connections. Despite a strong showing against the Broncos last week, Nate Myles is the only casualty in the Maroons pack with Josh McGuire returning after missing Game Three last year with an Achilles injury. Matt Gillett has done more than enough to earn a starting spot with Sam Thaiday capable of playing up front from the interchange. Michael Morgan has the potential to be best on ground despite starting from the bench.
Steven Ross, North Queensland Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Justin O'Neill, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Josh McGuire, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Josh Papalii, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Aidan Guerra
Darius Boyd is much more versatile in attack than Greg Inglis, so he takes the reins at fullback. The O'Neill-Feldt club combination is too hard to ignore, while Gavin Cooper and Johnathan Thurston will weave some magic. NSW's forward pack dominates the tale of the tape, so the Maroons will need Sam Thaiday, Josh Papalii and Aidan Guerra to put on the hard hats. Thaiday started in the back row last year, but he needs to be the 'glue guy' this year; a fresh body wreaking havoc off the bench. Nate Myles has done his state proud, but he's behind the pace in 2016.
Jack Brady, National Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Josh McGuire, 11 Josh Papalii, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Jacob Lillyman, 15 Aidan Guerra, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Michael Morgan.
Injuries in the outside backs means Corey Oates and Kyle Feldt are worthy Origin debutants. I really wanted to slot Gavin Cooper into this team but knowing how loyal Queensland is, they'll be hard-pressed finding him a spot. In saying that I haven't named Nate Myles because let's face it Josh McGuire and Josh Papalii are in way better form. McGuire wasn't a part of the Maroons' forward pack in Origin III last year due to injury but I can definitely see him ousting Myles.
Eden Richards, Queensland Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Josh McGuire, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Matt Scott, 11 Aidan Guerra, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Nate Myles, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Jacob Lillyman.
Darius Boyd is the best fullback in Australia at the moment and he deserves the fullback role. Corey Oates is in outstanding form and Queensland would be crazy not to pick him. Injuries to regular starters Billy Slater and Will Chambers will see Kyle Feldt earn his Origin debut. The North Queensland winger won't let the Maroons down, and his ability to put up a towering kick-off could be a useful tool for the Queenslanders. The rest of the team pretty much picks itself. Josh McGuire's start to the season sees him get a start over Nate Myles.
Dominic Brock, Production Editor
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Josh McGuire, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Sam Thaiday, 16 Josh Papalii, 17 Aidan Guerra.
Corey Oates and Kyle Feldt join the backline with Dane Gagai shifting from the wing role he played in Game Three last year to centre. Gavin Cooper gets my vote for a starting spot to see if the Thurston-Cooper combination can be as fruitful at Origin level as it is for the Cowboys, with Sam Thaiday to add some impact off the bench.
Adrian McMurray, Producer
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Josh McGuire, 11 Josh Papalii, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Nate Myles, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Aidan Guerra.
The only real changes here come in the backline, with a number of injuries allowing two of last year's grand final wingers to potentially make their Origin debut. Darius Boyd takes over at fullback like he did for Australia, while Greg Inglis moves back to centre.
Andy Bryan, Deputy Editor
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cam Smith, 10 Nate Myles, 11 Sam Thaiday, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Josh Papalii , 16 Jacob Lillyman, 17 Josh McGuire, 18 Aidan Guerra.
You can pretty much set your watch to the Queensland team, which is handy because this great team runs like clockwork. Darius Boyd is arguably having one of his career-best seasons and will take the No.1 role, with Greg Inglis returning to the centres. Corey Oates was unlucky not to be picked for Australia and should get his Origin debut. Nate Myles's granddad might think he isn't playing good enough to represent Queensland, but I can't see new coach Kevin Walters leaving the tested warrior out of the team. Aidan Guerra will be unlucky to miss out, but Josh McGuire deserves to be in the 17.
NRL.com's combined Queensland team
1 Darius Boyd
2 Corey Oates
3 Greg Inglis
4 Dane Gagai
5 Kyle Feldt
6 Johnathan Thurston
7 Cooper Cronk
8 Matt Scott
9 Cameron Smith (c)
10 Josh McGuire
11 Josh Papalii
12 Matt Gillett
13 Corey Parker
Interchange:
14 Michael Morgan
15 Nate Myles
16 Sam Thaiday
17 Aidan Guerra
This article first appeared on NRL.com
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