HOW QUEENSLAND SHAPE UP FOR ORIGIN I
Fullback
Darius Boyd. Origins played: 26
2017 kick return metres per game: 30
2017 try assists: 6
Held out the great Billy Slater to retain Maroons No.1 jersey. Safe under high ball, former try-scoring Queensland left winger now world’s best fullback.
Winger
Corey Oates. Origins played: 3
2017 average metres: 169
2017 tackle busts: 28
Under pressure from Test winger Valentine Holmes to retain his spot. Few can match the carry return in traffic from the lanky former backrower.
Centre
Will Chambers. Origins played: 4
2017 average metres: 116
2017 try assists: 4
Good news is he is back after a foot injury sidelined him for entire 2016 Origin series. Bad news is he must fill in for injured Maroons great Greg Inglis (knee).
Centre
2017 average metres: 70
2017 try assists: 0
Justin O’Neill. Origins played: 3
Powerful runner. Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Maroons’ loyalty policy, retaining spot despite ordinary NRL return from hamstring injury for North Queensland.
Winger
Dane Gagai. Origins played: 4
2017 average metres: 113
2017 tackle busts: 48
Proof NRL club form can mean little after nailing down Maroons wing spot based at battling Newcastle. Specialist fullback has thrived on Queensland wing, scoring five tries to date.
Five-eighth
Anthony Milford. Origins played: Nil
2017 try assists: 12
2017 line-break assists: 9
In just his third NRL season playing five-eighth, Milford finds himself being groomed as Johnathan Thurston’s heir apparent. Livewire playmaker who can break open a game with ball in hand or off boot.
Halfback
Cooper Cronk. Origins played: 19
2017 try assists: 6
2017 line-break assists: 3
Still to make a decision on whether he will play on in 2018, ever-reliable Cronk enters what looms as his final Origin series looking more important than ever with Thurston in doubt.
Prop
Dylan Napa. Origins played: Nil
2017 average metres: 103
2017 offloads: 3
The red-headed Sydney Roosters firebrand is ready to be unleashed after serving a 12-month Queensland ban last year for breaking Emerging Maroons camp curfew.
Hooker
Cameron Smith. Origins played: 39
2017 average dummy-half runs: 3.5 runs for 32 metres
2017 average tackles: 36.3
Dubbed The Accountant for his unassuming frame, Kangaroos skipper Smith continues to rack up stunning Origin numbers that may never be broken. Record game No.40 for the evergreen skipper.
Prop
Nate Myles. Origins played: 31
2017 average metres: 74
2017 average offloads: 0
Can’t crack NRL club Manly’s starting 13 but was first picked for Maroons front row to add much-needed experience to depleted Queensland pack.
Second row
Josh Papalii. Origins played: 6
2017 linebreaks: 6
2017 average tackles: 23.5
One of Queensland’s most damaging runners, also one of their most eccentric. Back from a ban after reporting himself to police for drink driving – twice.
Second row
Matt Gillett. Origins played: 15
2017 linebreaks: 2
2017 average tackles: 35
Gillett has gone from ever-reliable toiler to a stalwart of the Queensland backrow. Wonderful set of hands on a mobile ball carrier.
Lock
Josh McGuire. Origins played: 5
2017 average metres: 141
2017 tackles: 33.9
Cut his teeth at Origin level in the front row, now has the chance to cement himself at lock after the inspirational Corey Parker’s retirement.
Interchange:
Michael Morgan. Origins played: 5
2017 try assists: 8
2017 line-break assists: 5
A chance to replace an injured Thurston at five-eighth, the North Queensland playmaker was considered too important to the Maroons as bench utility.
Sam Thaiday. Origins played: 28
2017 average metres: 88
2017 average tackles: 20.1
Treating this Origin series as his last, the barnstorming Brisbane forward is embracing a mentor role for rookie Napa in the Queensland camp.
Aidan Guerra. Origins played: 9
2017 linebreaks: 0
2017 average tackles: 29.1
Another to benefit from a Maroons loyalty card after quiet NRL start with Sydney Roosters, will have plenty to prove in Origin I.
Jacob Lillyman. Origins played: 13
2017 average metres: 125
2017 offloads: 2
Big country boy who adds plenty of punch from bench.
