A SUCCESSFUL spine transplant from the NRL’s leading club could underpin Queensland’s quest for glory in the third and deciding State of Origin match at Suncorp Stadium on July 12.

The Maroons announced a 17-man squad, listed alphabetically, for Origin III with only two changes – forced by the injuries to five-eighth Johnathan Thurston and centre Darius Boyd – to the team that leveled the series in Sydney three weeks ago.

Rookies Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt, both products of the Queensland Emerging Origin program, have both been called up for their Origin debuts in the decider.

While it seems certain Hunt will fill the No.14 jersey, with the Bronco’s versatility perfectly suited to the utility role, coach Kevin Walters said he would need more time to weigh up whether Munster would play five-eighth or centre.

Michael Morgan, who will vacate the No.14 jersey and move into the starting side, brings tremendous experience and great form in the halves should Walters decide to replace Thurston with his Cowboys teammate.

Morgan was devastating for the Cowboys against the Raiders in Canberra in his last game before the team was announced, scoring two tries himself and having a hand in another three at halfback.

But Munster, who himself had a blinder for the Storm in their clash with the Broncos, also brings tremendous playmaking skill to the halves, and one thing most Origin rookies cannot claim – a ready-made combination with the Maroons’ star-studded core.

Munster of course plays five-eighth for Melbourne, making up the best “spine” in the NRL alongside Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.

There would be no need to spend time on establishing combinations at Queensland level – the four of them have been doing that all year as they have helped drive Melbourne to the top of the NRL ladder.

Walters though said he would make up his mind about the No.6 and No.3 jerseys after spending more time in camp and getting a feel for how the players were thinking.

“We’ll sort that out through the next couple of days,” Walters said.

“It’s probably better that we talk to our players first and see where we go to from there.

“It’s more just getting them together and getting them relaxed as we can be.”

Munster was Queensland’s 18th man in the 18-16 win over the Blues in Sydney.

Hunt’s selection inevitably raised some eyebrows, firstly because he tipped Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans out of a spot, but mostly because less than a month ago, Hunt was playing for the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup.

Coincidentally, this series marks 30 years since another halfback was plucked from Ipswich to pull on a Maroon jersey. The year was 1987, and the halfback was Allan Langer.

Walters, who along with brother Kerrod and Langer formed the Broncos’ Ipswich connection in the early 1990s, said Hunt will repay the faith of the Queensland selectors.

“We had him as part of our last camp, regardless of where he was playing,” Walters said of Hunt’s Ipswich stint.

“He was learning, experiencing what Origin is about. We feel that now the time is right for him to make that next step.

“We have every faith in him and that’s what matters more than anything else … likewise, he’ll return the faith with a really strong performance on Wednesday week.”

The rest of the squad remains intact from that breathtaking win in Sydney, with the forward pack to be looked to once again to repel a giant Blues pack looking for revenge after being man-handled on their own ground in Origin II.

NSW, as expected, named an unchanged squad for Origin III.

Queensland Maroons:

Coach: Kevin Walters