QLD PLAYER PROFILES

Fullback, Darius Boyd

Origins played: 26. 2017 kick return metres per game: 30. 2017 try assists: 6. Held out the great Billy Slater to retain Maroons No. 1 jersey. Safe under high ball, former try- scoring Queensland left winger now world’s best fullback.

Winger, Corey Oates

Origins played: 3. 2017 average metres: 169. 2017 tackle busts: 28. Under pressure from Test winger Valentine Holmes to retain his spot. Few can match the carry return in traffic from the lanky former backrower.

Centre, Will Chambers

Origins played: 4. 2017 average metres: 116. 2017 try assists: 4. Good news is he is back after a foot injury sidelined him for entire 2016 Origin series. Bad news is he must fill in for injured Maroons great Greg Inglis ( knee).

Centre, Justin O’Neill

Origins played: 3. 2017 average metres: 70. 2017 try assists: 0. Powerful runner. Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Maroons’ loyalty policy, retaining spot despite ordinary NRL return from hamstring injury for North Queensland.

Winger, Dane Gagai

Origins played: 4. 2017 average metres: 113. 2017 tackle busts: 48. Proof NRL club form can mean little after nailing down Maroons wing spot based at battling Newcastle. Specialist fullback has thrived on Queensland wing, scoring five tries to date.

Five- eighth, Anthony Milford

Origins played: Nil. 2017 try assists: 12. 2017 line- break assists: 9. In just his third NRL season playing fiveeighth, Milford finds himself being groomed as Johnathan Thurston’s heir apparent. Livewire playmaker who can break open a game with ball in hand or off boot.

Halfback, Cooper Cronk

Origins played: 19. 2017 try assists: 6. 2017 line- break assists: 3. Still to make a decision on whether he will play on in 2018, ever- reliable Cronk enters what looms as his final Origin series looking more important than ever with Thurston in doubt.

Prop, Dylan Napa

Origins played: Nil. 2017 average metres: 103. 2017 offloads: 3. The red- headed Sydney Roosters firebrand is ready to be unleashed after serving a 12- month Queensland ban last year for breaking Emerging Maroons camp curfew.

Hooker, Cameron Smith

Origins played: 39. 2017 average dummy- half runs: 3.5 runs for 32 metres. 2017 average tackles: 36.3. Dubbed The Accountant for his unassuming frame, Kangaroos skipper Smith continues to rack up stunning Origin numbers that may never be broken. Record game No. 40 for the evergreen skipper.

Prop, Nate Myles

Origins played: 31. 2017 average metres: 74. 2017 average offloads: 0. Can’t crack NRL club Manly’s starting 13 but was first picked for Maroons front row to add much- needed experience to depleted Queensland pack.

Second row, Josh Papalii

Origins played: 6. 2017 linebreaks: 6. 2017 average tackles: 23.5. One of Queensland’s most damaging runners, also one of their most eccentric. Back from a ban after reporting himself to police for drink driving — twice.

Second row, Matt Gillett

Origins played: 15. 2017 line breaks: 2. 2017 average tackles: 35. Gillett has gone from ever- reliable toiler to a stalwart of the Queensland back row. Wonderful set of hands on a mobile ball carrier.

Lock, Josh McGuire

Origins played: 5. average metres: 141. tackles: 33.9. Cut his teeth at Origin level in the front row, now has