By Wayne Heming

Eight points are all that stand in the way of North Queensland centre Valentine Holmes joining State of Origin’s elite centurion club of players who have scored 100 or more points for their state.

Only three players — Queensland pair Johnathan Thurston (220 points) and Mal Meninga (162) and NSW dual international, Michael O’Connor (129) – are card-carrying members of the club in 43 years.

Holmes is sitting on 92 points from his 14 Origin appearances after adding six points to his tally in Queensland’s first game 26-18 win in Adelaide last month.

Playing at home tonight in front of a massive sellout crowd he is an excellent chance of becoming only the fourth player accepted into the club since 1980.

Wrapping up the series is the only thing on Holmes’s mind, but it would be even sweeter if he could crack the ton mark in the process with a try and a few goals.

Regardless, the point-scoring milestone should be at his mercy in game three in Sydney next month if he comes up short at Suncorp Stadium.

He needs a try and or two goals to go past Nathan Cleary and Andrew Johns who are on 94 Origin points.

Holmes, 27, is averaging 6.5 points every Origin game and while Thurston’s total of 220 points may seem a long way off, he has only played 14 Origins compared to JT’s 37 games for Queensland.

The North Queensland Cowboy has already scored twice as many tries in his Origin career as Thurston who retired with five tries, 99 goals, and two field goals, with his right boot accounting for 200 of his 220 points.

Few players could bend a goal kick like Thurston who won countless games, including the 2015 grand final against Brisbane with an extra-time field goal kick.

“To be in the company of such Queensland greats as JT and Mal speaks volumes for Val’s ability,” said FOGS executive chairman and former Maroon, Gene Miles.

“I’m sure every Queensland supporter in the crowd and those watching on Wednesday night will be hoping he cracks the 100-point barrier.”

Here are Origin’s all-time top 10 point scorers:

Johnathan Thurston (Qld. 5 tries, 99 goals, 2 field goals 220 points)

Mal Meninga (Qld 6 tries, 69 goals, 162 points)

Michael O’Connor (NSW  11 tries, 42 goals, 1 field goal, 129 points)

Andrew Johns (NSW 4 tries, 37 goals, 4 field goals, 94 points)

Nathan Cleary (NSW 2 tries, 43 goals, 94 points)

Valentine Holmes (Qld 11 tries, 24 goals, 92 points)

Darren Lockyer (Qld 9 tries, 22 goals, 82 points)

Ryan Girdle (NSW 7 tries, 27 goals 82 points)

Greg Inglis (Qld 18 tries, 72 points)

James Maloney (NSW 2 tries, 31 goals, 70 points)