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VOTE: Pick your Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1

Billy Slater plays his final Origin match in 2018. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
22nd May, 2018
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The State of Origin series is here and for the first time in what feels like forever, there appears to be just as much speculation about who will play for the Queensland Maroons as there is for their interstate rivals.

Here at The Roar, we want you to tell us who should be picked in Kevin Walters squad for Game 1.

Queensland have been rocked ahead of this year’s series by a string of retirements to the core of a team who have won 11 of the last 12 series.

Formerly considered the ‘big four,’ only Billy Slater remains from a group which used to consist of captain Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and possibly the greatest of all time, Johnathan Thurston.

While Slater is a shoe-in for fullback, there are concerns around the make-up of Queensland’s Origin team have concerns on how to fill the rest of the positions, especially up front with injuries and a lack of form proving to be thorns in the side for coach Walters.

In fact, besides Slater, there don’t appear to be many certainties. Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd are likely to play on one edge as an experienced duo, but with the exit of Smith comes another problem. There is no recognised goalkicker in the popular 17, with the potential for Valentine Holmes needing to be picked to fill the void.

Kalyn Ponga has also made his case clear for selection after a stunning start to 2018 at the Newcastle Knights, while an out of sorts Dane Gagai is likely to be picked after becoming the first winger to win player of the series last year.

The halves will be a completely new combination, with Ben Hunt of the ladder-leading St George Illawarra Dragons a favourite to partner either Cameron Munster or Anthony Milford, although there are a swathe of other options.

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Rounding out the spine, the three main options touted to play hooker are Jake Friend, Andrew McCullough and Jake Granville, although Friend is battling a sternum injury and Granville is struggling in a side at the bottom of the ladder.

Matt Scott could make his return to Origin up front with the Maroons struggling for depth in the forwards, but his form hasn’t been brilliant. Other options up front include Jarrod Wallace, Dylan Napa and Tim Glasby, while Josh McGuire is likely to be picked at lock pending injury, with Josh Papalii the likely back-up, unless he is picked on the edge, in which case youngster Jai Arrow may get a look in.

Matt Gillett is another missing from the first game of the series after injuring his neck. He could be back before series’ end, but for now, the Maroons might be going back to the past with Aidan Guerra showing good form at the Knights. Coen Hess and Felise Kaufusi lead the charge for the other spots in the second row.

So, with all that said, who makes your team? Let us know using the form below, and don’t forget to tell everyone your team in the comments section.

And if you want to have your say on the NSW Blues team, you can do that as well right here.

State of Origin fixtures
Game 1: Wednesday, June 6 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Game 2: Sunday, June 24 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Game 3: Wednesday, July 11 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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