STATE of Origin Three will represent Queensland’s past, present and future, as the Maroons look to avenge a lost series and stave off a NSW whitewash at Suncorp Stadium on July 9.

Once again, injuries have forced the Queensland selectors’ hands in naming the squad for Game III, with a number of changes and new faces.

Will Chambers will make his Origin debut on the wing for Queensland, replacing Brent Tate who injured his knee in Origin II.

Jacob Lillyman will start at prop in the absence of Matt Scott, and backrower Chris McQueen will also be missing though injury.

Pleasingly though, there has been some good news on the injury front, with both Cooper Cronk (broken arm) and Corey Parker (facial fracture) returning to the team after missing Game II with injury.

Brisbane’s Josh McGuire and Cowboys fullback Michael Morgan are also new additions to the squad, as 18th and 19th man respectively, to gain valuable experience for future campaigns.

While the Maroons have been forced to digest their first series loss since 2005, there is still much to celebrate and anticipate in Game III.

The match will serve as a tribute to Queensland’s record-smashing eight-year run of series victories, with all 49 players who have worn the Maroon jersey since 2006 to be acknowledged at the game.

The most recent additions to the list of Former Origin Greats not currently on active duty will be given a lap of honour in front of the Suncorp Stadium faithful at halftime as part of a special presentation, including a video highlights package of Queensland’s golden run.

Those former players – our latest members of the FOGS family – will then form a guard of honour for the current team as they return to the field after halftime.

While there is much to celebrate with Queensland’s past achievements, the Maroons know there is still much to be done.

As much as this series marks the end of a winning streak, it also shapes as a new beginning – a place for Queensland to relaunch and re-establish their dominance next year.

But even before that is the task of winning this final game of the series, and after a horrendous run with luck in the lead-up to and during the preceding two matches, Queensland looks likely to finally enjoy a settled preparation for Game III.

Daly Cherry-Evans, who deputised in Cronk’s absence at ANZ Stadium in Game II, will return to his game-breaking utility role from the interchange bench.

Greg Inglis too will thrive on a more settled build-up, given his preparation for Game II was wrecked by rehabilitation on an ankle injury.

QUEENSLAND GAME III:
1. Billy SLATER – (Melbourne Storm)
2. Darius BOYD – (Newcastle Knights)
3. Greg INGLIS – (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
4. Justin HODGES – (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Will CHAMBERS – (Melbourne Storm)
6. Johnathan THURSTON – (North Queensland Cowboys)
7. Cooper CRONK – (Melbourne Storm)
8. Jacob LILLYMAN – (NZ Warriors)
9. Cameron SMITH (c) – (Melbourne Storm)
10. Nate MYLES – (Gold Coast Titans)
11. Aidan GUERRA – (Sydney Roosters)
12. Sam THAIDAY – (Brisbane Broncos)
13. Corey PARKER – (Brisbane Broncos)
INTERCHANGE
14. Daly CHERRY-EVANS – (Manly Sea Eagles)
15. Ben TE’O – (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
16. Matt GILLETT – (Brisbane Broncos)
17. Dave TAYLOR – (Gold Coast Titans)
18. Josh McGUIRE – (Brisbane Broncos)
19. Michael MORGAN – (North Queensland Cowboys)

The 49 players who represented Queensland between 2006 and 2013 are:

Matt Ballin, Steven Bell, Shaun Berrigan, Matt Bowen, Darius Boyd, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll, Daly Cherry-Evans, Petero Civoniceva, Neville Costigan, Michael Crocker, Cooper Cronk, Chris Flannery, Israel Folau, Matt Gillett, Ben Hannant, Josh Hannay, Ashley Harrison, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson, Antonio Kaufusi, Jacob Lillyman, Darren Lockyer, PJ Marsh, Chris McQueen, Adam Mogg, Nate Myles, Dane Nielsen, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Clinton Schifcofske, Matt Scott, David Shillington, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, David Stagg, Brent Tate, Dave Taylor, Ben Te’o, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga, Carl Webb, Rhys Wesser, Jharal Yow Yeh