Slater for fullback

Maroons selectors likely to drop O’Neill

STORM champion Billy Slater’s fairytale Queensland comeback is complete but Maroons coach Kevin Walters was last night hit with a fresh selection nightmare for Origin II.

Slater ( pictured) will today be unveiled as Maroons fullback ahead of Origin I custodian Darius Boyd as Queensland selectors go back to the future in a bid to save the series on Wednesday week.

But the Maroons’ hopes of f hitting back at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium were dealt a blow yesterday when prop Jarrod Wallace was charged for an incident in the Titans’ 34- 12 loss to the Warriors on Saturday.

Wallace and Cowboys wrecking ball Coen Hess were set to be the new faces on Queensland’s bench.

But Wallace risks being rubbed out of Origin II for a shoulder charge, leaving Walters with a potential selection crisis given Queensland’s skin- ny front- row stocks. Queensland’s three- man selection panel – comprising Walters, Gene Miles and Darren Lockyer – were last night agonising over several positions after the NRL match- review committee booked Wallace.

The trio have no qualms resurrecting the Origin career of Slater, who has bravely fought back from two years of injury hell to chalk- up his 28th game for Queensland.

Slater was controversially overlooked for the series opener in a decision that pushed Walters to the brink of tears, but the Maroons coach can no longer ignore his sizzling club form.

Slater’s return has implications for Boyd and Queensland centre Justin O’Neill, who has been axed after his below- par display marking NSW opposite Jarryd Hayne in Origin I.

Walters, Miles and Lockyer were last night debating what to do with Boyd. The Maroons ace has played 23 of his 27 Origin games on the left wing, but playing him at left centre would partner Boyd with his Broncos teammate Corey Oates.

Oates will either be retained on the left wing or left out of the side completely.

The tactical deployment of Dane Gagai will shape Queensland’s right side. Walters is weighing up a Will Chambers- Gagai alliance or moving Gagai in- field to right centre, which would bring Val- entine Holmes onto the flank for his Origin debut.

Johnathan Thurston will return to the No. 6 jumper after missing Game One with a shoulder injury, but his Cowboys teammate O’Neill was last night sweating on his Origin fate.

“Billy has definitely done enough in my eyes,” O’Neill said. “I’d love to be there, but it’s up to Kevvie.

“All I can do is look at last year’s series and hope the three games I played last year were enough to show I can still perform at Origin level,” O’Neill said.

In the forwards, props Nate Myles and Jacob Lillyman will be jettisoned, while backrower Josh Papalii is hoping to be cleared of a knock he suffered against Penrith.

Bench forward Aidan Guerra is likely to be retained. Dynamic Storm forward Felise Kaufusi has been discussed for a debut as Walters hopes for the best with Wallace.