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Queensland Maroons celebrate Billy Slater's try. AAP Image/Paul Miller
The Queensland lineup is like a tax bill: you know it’s coming, you know what it will be, but it is still demoralising when you see it there in front you, printed in black and white.
NSW had about 18 hours to live the dream before the Maroons handed down their line-up yesterday, and when they did, it made a mockery of the Blues claims to out-muscle the Maroons.
The backline was predictable enough, and I believe it remains as one of the best backlines the Maroons have ever produced.
To replace Justin Hodges with an in-form Willie Tonga means they lose nothing, and when you can have Greg Inglis and Israel Folau on one side of the field, well, you deserve favouritism.
When Darren Lockyer is arguably your weak link, you know you have a fair side.
The Maroons have taken some risks. They’ll pin their hopes on the recovery of Cameron Smith, although Matt Ballin is a solid replacement.
But the backrow is probably better than usual given both Thaiday and Myles are both in career best form.
Ashley Harrison is the one name on the team sheet which isn’t awe inspiring. Many would have had North Queensland’s Scott Bolton in the side, but he can’t have been that close when he didn’t even make the bench.
However, I see Maroons fans gnashing their teeth (or is it tooth?) over Harrison the way those south of the border bemoan Kurt Gidley.
If Phil Gould reckons Jamal Idris is the biggest human being in the world, he’s never seen Dave Taylor. What’s more, the Queensland selectors have seen the Blues their Idris and raised them a Shillington and Costigan.
The Maroons bench is pretty much how you want it to be: full of power, impact and guile in the form of Cooper Cronk.
If the Maroons go 3-0 they’ll deserve it and they’ll be favoured to do so with this side.
But with some much on the line for NSW, and such a good Queensland team standing in their way, I’m looking forward to this series more than any in recent memory.
Queensland line-up for Origin I
Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Willie Tonga, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (capt), Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Scott, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Ashley Harrison Interchange: Cooper Cronk, David Shillington, Neville Costigan, David TaylorNew South Wales line-up for Origin I
Kurt Gidley (capt), Brett Morris, Matt Cooper, Timana Tahu, Jarryd Hayne, Jamie Lyon, Brett Kimmorley, Michael Weyman, Michael Ennis, Josh Perry, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Creagh, Anthony Watmough. Interchange: Jamal Idris, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Luke Lewis, Brett White
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