The Queensland Maroons team for State of Origin 1 in 2015 might already have been leaked, but we still put Roarers under the microscope as to who they would pick in the Maroon jerseys for ANZ Stadium.
Picking the Queensland team has been largely a boring affair in the past eight seasons, with Mal Meninga very quick to spill the beans to anyone in the media willing to listen, prizing consistency and combinations above all things.
Who can argue? This loyal approach brought the Maroons unprecedented success, with eight successive titles.
More State of Origin:
» State of Origin News
» State of Origin team news
» The Roar’s NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» The Roar’s Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
But what did Roarers think the team should be? Here’s your team, from top to bottom, with no further ado.
1. Billy Slater
2. Will Chambers
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Darius Boyd
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith
10. Nate Myles
11. Sam Thaiday
12. Aidan Guerra
13. Corey Parker
14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. Josh Papalii
16. Josh McGuire
17. Jacob Lillyman
Well, it seems like Roarers think a lot like Mal Meninga, and think the old guard can go back to their winning ways in 2015.
Injury-struck Broncos Darius Boyd and Justin Hodges have both gotten the nod, alongside stalwart Greg Inglis and new man Will Chambers.
Johnathan Thurston narrowly beat out the next contender, Daylight, for the five-eighth spot. Similarly, there was no competition for Cooper Cronk at half.
Matt Scott and Nate Myles are unsurprising as they come in the front row, while the only possible contentious selection for the starting team was Aidan Guerra and Sam Thaiday in the second row.
Corey Parker gets the nod at lock.
Matt Gillett is among a number of good players to miss out on bench spots, which went to players whose names start with ‘J’ (and Daly Cherry-Evans).
Is this a stroke of ‘Jenius’ from Roarers? Well, we’ll find out when the Queensland team is announced on Tuesday.
Here’s the full summary of selections for the Queensland Maroons team for State of Origin 1.
Billy Slater | 96 | 89.7% |
Greg Inglis | 10 | 9.3% |
Other | 1 | 0.9% |
Darius Boyd | 95 | 88% |
Will Chambers | 73 | 67.6% |
Dale Copley | 12 | 11.1% |
Dane Gagai | 26 | 24.1% |
Other | 1 | 0.9% |
Justin Hodges | 95 | 88% |
Greg Inglis | 98 | 90.7% |
Will Chambers | 14 | 13% |
Dane Gagai | 7 | 6.5% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Johnathan Thurston | 102 | 94.4% |
Daylight | 6 | 5.6% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Cooper Cronk | 90 | 84.1% |
Daly Cherry-Evans | 17 | 15.9% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Cameron Smith | 102 | 95.3% |
Matt Ballin | 1 | 0.9% |
James Segeyaro | 4 | 3.7% |
Jake Friend | 0 | 0% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Matt Scott | 92 | 86.8% |
Nate Myles | 56 | 52.8% |
Sam Thaiday | 15 | 14.2% |
Jacob Lillyman | 14 | 13.2% |
Josh Papalii | 8 | 7.5% |
Josh McGuire | 24 | 22.6% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Chris McQueen | 29 | 26.9% |
Nate Myles, | 18 | 16.7% |
Matt Gillett | 18 | 16.7% |
Sam Thaiday | 83 | 76.9% |
Josh Papalii | 5 | 4.6% |
Aidan Guerra | 53 | 49.1% |
Dylan Napa | 4 | 3.7% |
Other | 4 | 3.7% |
Corey Parker | 98 | 92.5% |
Josh Papalii | 3 | 2.8% |
Matt Gillett | 5 | 4.7% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Matt Gillett | 56 | 51.9% |
Daly Cherry-Evans | 72 | 66.7% |
Jacob Lillyman | 60 | 55.6% |
Corey Parker | 6 | 5.6% |
Chris McQueen | 28 | 25.9% |
Josh Papalii | 66 | 61.1% |
Dave Taylor | 19 | 17.6% |
Jake Friend | 9 | 8.3% |
Dave Tyrrell | 11 | 10.2% |
Josh McGuire | 63 | 58.3% |
Other | 30 | 27.8% |