Origin Watch – Queensland: the certainties

Queensland will be forced into making changes for the upcoming Origin series due to the retirement of Billy Slater and unavailability of Valentine Holmes.

There's also a chance the likes of Will Chambers will be overlooked for younger players with a view to refreshing the once all-conquering squad.

One thing is for sure though and that is that the nucleus of the successful Maroons sides of the past will remain.

We take a look at the players who are (injury allowing) absolute certainties to be picked for the Queenslanders come Game One.

Cam Munster: I'm an unashamed Munster fan. He is very capable of crossing the line (twice in the Grand Final for instance) but there is no more competitive player in the NRL right now than the Storm, Maroons and Kangaroos' number six. He is the typical Melbourne player, tough as nails, skilful and his footy intelligence is ridiculous. He stole the ball three times from Dylan Edwards last week when literally no one else was thinking the same. He's a rep star and a Maroons mainstay. First player picked.

Michael Morgan: I'm calling it now, Morgan will edge DCE for the number seven spot. Even if he doesn't, he'll be there on the bench as the super sub, or could even play in the centres if required. Point is, unless he is injured, he's in the side that tackles the Blues in Game One. One of the game's elite players, Morgan has done it all. Would not be shocked if he's a future Origin captain. Automatic selection, somewhere.

Jai Arrow: With all due respect to the Titans' big man, he probably doesn't have the name value of others on this list. That said, he's just as important to the Maroons' cause in 2019 and beyond. His effort against the Sharks was the stuff of legends. He made metres, breaks, tackles, offloads, tackle breaks. All obviously expected by NRL forwards, but he did it in an easily beaten forward pack against one of the competition's best rosters. Arrow is one of the safer options but that is not a knock in any way. Brilliant.

Felise Kaufusi: Kaufusi is a player who, for some reason, slips under the radar in lists such as this. There is no doubt in the world he will be there terrorising wide defenders come Game One. None! He's a rep mainstay for many years to come. Powerful, quick, skillful and aggressive, he's a purpose-built Origin player. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, like Munster he'll push the boundaries. I'm a fan in that I loathe him when my side is playing against him. That's a show of respect.

Greg Inglis: Absolutely no explanation required really. He was the Maroons' best in two games last year and lifted his side, as captain, when they were behind. Magnificent player. Possible future immortal. Injury has stunted his 2019 season to date but if he's standing, he's lining up for his beloved Maroons.

Dane Gagai: Gagai is one of those players who lifts when wearing rep jerseys in a big way. He can be having a below average season for his club side yet be the best player on the field come Origin time. He's done it before! Gagai, given Holmes has moved on, is now the first winger picked for the Maroons. A regular thorn in the side of the Blues.

Josh Papalii: If you think of the term 'Origin player' you think of Josh Papalii. A player who rarely goes a game or two without a major highlight in defence, Papalii is a wrecking ball. Sometimes he can be a little over aggressive but that's the risk you run in this arena. Brilliant player.

Josh McGuire: Another 'Origin player'. McGuire is a player who is easy to dislike. Again, that's not a knock, that's a show of respect. McGuire will make a mountain of tackles and metres and almost go unnoticed until a game breaking offload or hit to force an error. Will give away penalties but it's worth the risk. If he's available, you play him.

Kaylyn Ponga: I actually hovered over submitting this without including the Knights megastar in the list but reconsidered. Surely he has to be there somewhere, right? Now that he's shifted back to fullback for Newcastle, he's going to be named in the fullback spot, but there was a line of thinking of a Morgan, Munster, DCE, McCullough/Friend spine with Hunt off the bench, but SURELY they go Ponga at one. He excelled in his Origin debut in the front line and I have no doubt in the world he'll excel at fullback. Not sure why I ever doubted that.

Let us know below if we've left any out, or if you expect a selection shock.