BACKROWER Chris McQueen will carry a heavy slab of history on his shoulders when he lines up for Queensland in this year’s first State of Origin game, at Suncorp Stadium, on May 28.

McQueen was named to start in the second row for the Maroons in Origin’s 100th anniversary match, in what was a predictable Queensland squad as selectors maintained their loyalty to last year’s successful team.

Roosters second rower Aidan Guerra is the only new face, coming onto the bench after the withdrawal of Brisbane’s Sam Thaiday created an opening.

Roosters hooker Jake Friend and the Storm’s Will Chambers, both yet to make Origin debuts, have been included as the squad’s 18th and 19th man.

But plenty of eyes will be on McQueen in Origin I, and not just because he will carry jersey No.18 into the first match of the series that could deliver Queensland a ninth-straight title.

The Queensland No.11 has been retired for Origin 100 as a tribute to the great Arthur Beetson, meaning McQueen will be one of the few players to carry No.18 into battle.

But McQueen already made a bit of history at the selection table, being named to start in the second row for Queensland despite currently playing off the bench for his club, South Sydney.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga admitted to fogs.com.au that it was a break in the Maroons selectors’ protocols to choose a player not starting for his club side, but said selectors were determined to show their faith in the players that had got the job done last year.

“Chris is not starting with Souths, and we have always had a philosophy in choosing the team based around starting players,” Mal said.

“But we talk to the clubs and the coaches about the players, and where they are at physically, and we are comfortable with where he is at.

“Certainly, Chris and Josh Papalii were the ones most under the pump in the final NRL round before the team was named, but we have no concerns about them being ready for the job Queensland needs them to do.

“Both are physically fine, they are all doing extras so they are doing everything they can to get themselves up to speed.

“But both of these guys got an opportunity last year and they didn’t let the team down so we can’t question their ability to play at Origin level.

“We made some decisions last year about our younger players, and there is no point now changing those decisions. We have to believe in what we’re doing.”

Meninga said he was pleased to see a glut of his big-name stars “switch on” over the past couple of weeks, with their class shining through as Origin loomed.

“We have some form players, and we also have some that can be playing better,” Mal said. “But Origin has a long history of taking players who aren’t in form, and turning their seasons around.

“We aren’t scared of the fact we have a couple of players that are down on form. We believe that by coming into the Origin program, we can actually help the players and their clubs discover the best of themselves again.”

Queensland Maroons

1. Billy Slater
2. Darius Boyd
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Brent Tate
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith
10. Nate Myles
18. Chris McQueen
12. Matt Gillett
13. Corey Parker

INTERCHANGE

14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. Ben Te’o
16. Aidan Guerra
17. Josh Papalii
19. Will Chambers