Well it’s that time of year again. After clinching a record eighth successive State of Origin series victory last year, consistency will again be the key for Queensland.
Coach Mal Meninga has released a squad for Game 1 that remains relatively unchanged from last season.
Here’s how the team will line-up in Brisbane.
More Origin Coverage:
>> NSW Blues team for Origin 1 – Expert reaction
>> Can NSW win with this team?
>> Full State of Origin Teams and news
1. Billy Slater
Despite calls this season for Slater to make way at the back for Greg Inglis, a recent purple patch for the Storm fullback has cemented Billy the Kid’s stay in the number one jersey and once more he will be one to watch for the Blues.
But, has his likely NSW opposite Jarry Hayne overtaken him in the excitement stakes?
2. Darius Boyd
In a year that has seen as many highlights as well spoken and lucid press conferences, Boyd is clearly in the Maroons side on past performances.
Which would generally be a bit of a worry, save for the fact that those performances were bloody superb.
3. Greg Inglis
While he may spend more time at fullback in the NRL, Greg Inglis, aka ‘the Bowraville Bomber’, seems to always save his best for Origin matches.
Given his form for the Bunnies this year, NSW coach Laurie Daley will be looking to find some form of footy kryptonite ASAP.
4. Justin Hodges
He fights, he fights and fights and fights and fights.
Generally as well-liked by fans as the price of stadium hotdogs, Maroons fans can rest easy knowing that Hodges is equally loathed by the blokes in blue trying to defend him as he has made an art form of breaking the first tackle.
5. Brent Tate
After a brief representative retirement, Tate has decided to go all John Farnham on us and throw himself chin first into another gruelling Origin campaign.
Whatever he’ll give away to the NSW flankmen in youth and knee cartilage, he’s sure to make up for with experience, guile and scary faces at the camera.
6. Johnathan Thurston
The man they call JT shows no sign of slowing down, and much like his musical namesake looks set to continue to rock some bodies and have Blues fans crying a river. Almost unstoppable on his day.
7. Cooper Cronk
Rugby league’s thinking man, Melbourne’s slow start to the year had many pundits thinking that Queensland’s Mr Clutch may have to make way for one certain young Manly upstart.
But, with an impressive track record and his sinews now all fully aligned, Cronk will again find himself a vital cog in the Maroons scum-base partnership…and trivia team!
8. Matt Scott
Chances are if you asked most rugby league fans to draw your archetypal front rower it would look something like North Queensland’s fridge on legs.
Scott has been huge for the Cowboys in recent weeks and will likely be the man taking the first hit-up every set. A very underrated figure in Queensland’s winning streak.
9. Cameron Smith
The Maroons main man. The king toad. The big banana bender.
With his superb defence, crafty kicking game and unrivalled ability to know when to run from dummy half, rumour has it that Smith has already had a number of sculptors take his measurement in preparation for his statue outside Lang Park in retirement.
10. Nate Myles
Myles continues to put in the hard yards every week at the Gold Coast and has climbed the staircase to be a must for Mal come Origin time. Will look to reignite his feud with Blues boss Paul Gallen.
11. Chris McQueen
The Rabbitohs wild man’s game isn’t always pretty, but he will be expected to sure up the Maroons defence particularly as the game enters its frantic latter stages.
Also has great versatility and the ability to slot in out wide if needed.
12. Matt Gillett
With the injury to clubmate Sam Thaiday, Gillett will be expected to take over his roll of terrorising the Blues out wide, and should benefit from having a little less responsibility in the all-star Maroons pack.
13. Corey Parker
The silver stallion shows no signs of slowing down or being put out to pasture, as he continues his transition from Mr Club consistency to rep royalty.
Mal has even promised that he might give him a break at some stage during the game.
14. Daly Cherry-Evans
A man who would have likely knocked up a dozen Origin games by now had he been born South of the Tweed, DCE will once again play a utility role from the bench and look to remind the Blues that things may be get worse before they get better.
15. Ben Te’o
Another of South Sydney’s angry men, Te’o is widely regarded for his punishing defence and will play an important role in making sure that the Maroons’ classy spine isn’t man-handled by the Blues bruiser boys.
16. Josh Papalli
Every team needs a little bit of fire from the bench, and despite playing in a struggling Raiders outfit, Papalli’s ability to make runners think twice sees him again make his way onto the Maroons bench.
17. Aidan Guerra
Having proved himself in a premiership winning Roosters side and with the Italians at last year’s World Cup, the versatile Guerra makes his Origin debut in a move that has many of those in the know cheering “Bellissimo!”
18. Will Chambers
The slippery Storm centre caps a remarkable comeback to the code with a call-up to the squad. He might not do much more than warm the pine, but this selection points to a succession plan.
19. Jake Friend
Aggressive Roosters vice-captain Friend has been one of the form hookers of the competition this year, and is rewarded with a spot in camp.
Can’t get enough Origin? Roarers also picked their own Origin teams.
The Roar’s New South Wales Blues team for Game 1
The Roar’s Queensland Maroons team for Game 1
lucy
Guest
die hard maroons..Go maroons second game
nathan kerua
Guest
Justin Hodges is still the best.... who says he is out of form?
Jethro Pulump
Guest
Hi,Im a Papua New Guinean and Queensland Maroons is my team. I believe QLD will make it through end. I love my.
darius degiis
Guest
That's best becouse all the players are origin experienced players and can put their best to make us their supporters proud..go queensland!!
Slain
Guest
Get out of here...we do not care what the NSW fans think!
mushi
Guest
why would eh admit to it he hasn't with regards to workplace bullying?
Crober
Guest
S.M....good night son...join the NSW blues commentary and pour your heart out....
S.McMao
Guest
I am from the highlands of Papua New Guinea just north of Queensland but since I came to watch and follow the State of Origin Clashes, I am a strong supporter of the Blues. I know the Blues have not performed to the supporters' expectation but I still believe that they are just as good as the Maroons. 2014 is a new dawn for the blues and I am very confident that Blues will eventually break through again so go Blues..All the way from the blue mountains of Papua New Guinea.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
I thought they had gotten over this logjam of back rowers type selections. This team is definitely a prop short and will be found out. Lillyman or McGuire had to come in. Guerra is a solid player who I haven't seen much of in recent times. If he has improved as much as others here say, I think McQueen drops out for him. Nate Myles may play as a prop for the Titans as does Corey Parker for Brisbane, but they are both transplanted back rowers. Plus with all their extra grunt work for their clubs, I wonder if they will have the stamina for origin. But origin teams are powered by their big props. It might sound old fashioned. But NSW always picked a thousand back rowers and bragged about their speed and mobility, yet Price and Petero, Hannant, Shillington, Scott etc etc over the last 8 years have shown how important it is to have THREE SPECIALIST PROPS.
Scott Buchanan
Guest
Are you serious????? Gillett has been one of the Broncos best this year. Deserves the starting team call-up.
tony tee
Guest
maroons are still the best.Age may be catching up on most of them , but i recon origin footy is a mind game and when queenslanders wear the maroon jersey, they are young at heart. Mal should retain the same team next year. Maroons era is not over yet.
osmium gus
Guest
How come NSW don't have an 18 and 19. I doesn't seem fair :) Seriously, how come NSW don't have an 18 and 19. We brought Sutton and Reynolds into an expanded squad last year to get them familiar with the set up and a taste. Qld did this with Cronk during Locky's latter years, and with a couple of fringe players every year. We could get Idris/Tafua/Sims into camp to get their juices flowing knowing that they were close and to learn the set up in case of a late injury. We could have Ennis in camp in case Farah's elbow falls off. Why isn't this a standard practice?
Jackson Henry
Guest
I disagree in the strongest possible terms that this bloke needs to be cut some slack - divorce, seperation or not. This individual has one of the strongest track records for being a bully. Andrew Voss? DVOs? Repeated intimidation of junior staff at his own workplace? A decent bloke simply doesn't do the things he's done. Tihs behaviour of his existed well before his recent unfortunate marital situation, and if perception is anything to go by (and that's all we can go by), was most likely the cause of it. For that he needs to be accountable. And some of what we're reading here is that very accountability. And then there's the fact that he's inflicting himself on all RL fans every Friday night because Gyngell and the NRL are too scared to put him offside...mostly likely because he knows where the bodies are buried. What a joke.
Paul Callings
Guest
Dan, Ray Hadley recently brought his team of jocks and other footy personalities to the bush for a charity day. I hope his ex-wife realises behind the wind and distant fibro background is still a great bloke and great supporter of rugby league in Australia. When you go through a separation and loss you are allowed to slip and make a mistake, big or small. I don't know the guy personally however he is a lover of the game and deserves some slack at present. If he did the wrong thing I am sure he will admit to it when he has a clear head and some reflection. Let's focus the greatest 6 weeks in RL on tbe forrest and not the trees.
Shouts Chen
Guest
Mal Meninga is a very experienced Queensland Maroons Coach. He has been a very successful coach for the past 8 years.
rvm99
Guest
I think Guerra is a worthy selection in the fine tradition of QLD players who the fans mightn’t really rate but ask their team mates what their contribution is to the team. Thaiday’s injury was the only real selection headache for QLD and they have come up with a pretty good solution which builds on the formulae of last year where the emphasis was on mobility in the back row.
JB
Guest
Townsville boy, reminds me of a more physical Christ flannery who was a menace to us new South Welshman and grew another foot in a maroon jumper, unfortunately I can see guerra doing the same.
JB
Guest
Guerra is a great selection as a new South Welshman I wish they went for Taylor
WoobliesFan
Guest
Dave Taylor? You're kidding. Risking a game on a loose cannon like that is a risk not worth taking (btw, is Dave Taylor the biggest under-achiever in the history of the game?). Tiquiri?....christ, he should have given it away years ago. What a dumb suggestion. As for that QLD poster who said he wanted a NSW win -the sin bin for you buddy, you're a disgrace...a true QLDer would never think like that. I hate the blues - hate them...and you should too. FYI, we owe them at least another 2-3 decades of payback before I would even think about feeling sorry for them. Btw, we need to win another series just so we can hear Laurie Daley utter that famous line about this QLD team again ---> "they're not great yet"....hehehe. So tell us Lozza, what is - 3 wins on a row?.....MWaahahahahaha. PS…..I wonder who they’ll put in the coach's jumper next year ---> Benny Elias, Fitler?....lol. This is a 8-yr comedy act if I've ever seen one.
AlanKC
Guest
awful prices - gouging at its worst.