How Queensland are shaping up

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With less than one round of footy left to play before the selectors hand down their 17, we take a look at how the Queensland Maroons are shaping up ahead of coach Kevin Walters' team selection, whilst also throwing in a few potential bolters.

FULLBACK - Following the retirement of champion fullback Billy Slater, the Maroons have been blessed with one of the best young talents in the game ready to assume his mantle. After debuting off the bench in game two last year, Kalyn Ponga showed he is more than ready to handle the Origin arena making 29 tackles in the middle and still coming up with a line-break late in the match to nearly steal the show. After being moved back to his natural position in round four, the Knights dynamo has looked better each week and has now scored tries in his last five matches including a double in his side's big win at Mudgee on Sunday. An absolute lock for the number one jersey.

WINGERS - After missing selection in the opening two games last year, Corey Oates earned a recall to the team for game three after Greg Inglis was ruled out through injury. With Inglis now retired and Valentine Holmes on an NFL mission with the New York Jets, Oates looks a lock to line up on the left flank. Has been in strong form this season with 9 tries to his name and his robust runs coming out of trouble will be crucial to getting the Maroons sets started.

On the right touchline, 2017 Wally Lewis medallist Dane Gagai has proved exceptional for the Maroons when lining up on the flank scoring 9 tries in 9 games and running with bucket loads of ticker coming out of his own end. May yet be asked to play in the centres depending on where Coach Walters chooses to use Michael Morgan. If that happens, Edrick Lee could be in line for a debut after a strong start to his career at the Knights.

The bolter could be Corey Thompson who's only small in stature, but big in heart. Plays the game with the kind of attitude that the Queensland spirit has been built around and his speed when getting out of dummy half for a run could prove an asset against tired defenders.  

CENTRES - With ten Origin games under his belt, Will Chambers experience will be crucial for the Maroons as their team continues to evolve into the next era. Will be in the team for game one, but on what side of the field? Has moved to the left this year at the Storm after playing the rest of his career on the right. Had a running battle with Latrell Mitchell throughout last year's series coming off second best and will no doubt be keen to make amends if he gets the chance.  

The smart tip north of the border for the other centre position is Michael Morgan who did the job there in the 2017 decider. As versatile as they come, Morgan lined up on the left in that game, but may be asked to use his big frame to mark up on Latrell on the right. He's also in line to play halfback if Daly Cherry-Evans is unable to prove his fitness. In that instance, it's likely Gagai lines up at centre.

FIVE-EIGHTH - Considered by many a chance to be handed captaincy duties, Cameron Munster is a lock to pull on the number six jersey after making it his own throughout last year's series. In outstanding form again this year and sure to be one of the key attacking threats for the Maroons throughout the series.

HALFBACK - Coach Walters will be sweating on the fitness of gun half Daly Cherry-Evans overcoming the ankle injury that has seen him sidelined for the past three weeks. The Maroons looked a far slicker and more organized unit with DCE in the driver's seat for game three last year and was in sublime form for Manly before being injured. Coming in with no football under his belt is some concern, but displays the professionalism needed to hit the ground running provided he can train with the team. As mentioned previously, Morgan looks like plan B with last year's half for the opening two games Ben Hunt being geared more towards the hooking role.

PROPS - A constant in the team since debuting back in 2013, Josh Papalii made his front-row debut in game three last year and appears a strong chance of making the spot his own this year. Has been in strong form up front for the Raiders after making a permanent move to the engine room in the off-season and has been a key cog in the green machine's return to top form.

The second spot up front is still a little unclear and Coach Walters will be looking for someone to put their hand up with a big game this weekend. Options include Jarrod Wallace who had a below par series last year, Dylan Napa who's still finding his fitness and form three weeks back from an ankle injury and veteran of 22 Origin caps Matt Scott who roared back into contention with a strong display up front last weekend that included a try and seven tackle busts. Jai Arrow who started at prop in game three last year and Josh McGuire are also options if Walters wants to start with both lock forwards.

HOOKER - Cowboys rake Jake Granville and makeshift option Ben Hunt have been named by Walters as the two most likely options after the injury to incumbent number nine Andrew McCullough.

Granville appears the less likely option and hasn't exactly been in career best form of late. Noted for his running and speed out of dummy half, the Cowboys hooker is averaging just 41 metres per game this year and isn't exactly renowned for making large tackle counts which is what's expected of an Origin number nine.

The more likely option is Hunt who came off the bench in game three last year to play the final 50 minutes out of dummy half and the Maroons looked a lot sharper as a result. Tough and competitive, Hunt would handle the defensive work and adds a strong kicking option. Whether he could play 80 minutes there remains the key question.

Young Eel Reed Mahoney has been earmarked as a player of the future, but could yet emerge as a bolter for selection this year. Crafty out of acting half and has a big motor in defence averaging 46 tackles per game. With only 19 games at NRL level to his name it may be seen as too early to throw the 21 year old into the Origin furnace, but it's not like Queensland haven't done it before and he would only be essentially needed to play 30 minutes or so with Hunt used off the bench as he was last year.

SECOND-ROWERS - Likely to return to the fold after missing last year's series, the experienced Matt Gillett should line up on the right edge and is among the names being thrown around as captain. The left edge spot looks like being between incumbent second-rowers Gavin Cooper and Felise Kaufusi who started in all three games last year. Kaufusi in his debut series was particularly impressive whilst Cooper is a left-edge specialist making it a tough call for Coach Walters.

LOCK - Looks a two horse race with hard-working forwards Josh McGuire and Jai Arrow vying for the number 13 jersey. McGuire has been listed as a reserve for the Cowboys this weekend and will be looking to get some crucial game time under his belt before the series opener. Arrow meanwhile, sent an injury scare of his own through the Maroons coaching staff on Thursday morning going down with a hip flexor injury at Titans training. He won't play this weekend, but is expected to be fit for game one. Both men are tough enough to overcome their injuries and are a good chance to line up in the starting side together with one starting up front.

INTERCHANGE - Whilst there's a good chance some of the names already mentioned will come into contention for a bench spot should they miss a starting birth, Coach Walters also has other options.

Middle forwards Tim Glasby and Joe Ofahengaue are likely to feature in discussions as is back-rower Coen Hess who's struggled to nail down a starting spot in the Cowboys pack this year, but is still an incumbent member of the Maroons team. Glasby has been an underrated player vital to the Knights recent run of success and Ofahengaue has packed plenty of punch off the bench for the Broncos in recent weeks.

The bench utility role will be a vital one for the Maroons this year, particularily if they opt for Hunt in the number nine. Anthony Milford has been the name on plenty of people's lips as the man to fill that role, but he doesn't really cover hooker in the event Hunt can't push through the 80 minutes. Jake Granville has also been mentioned, but the real smoky could be Tigers skipper Moses Mbye. The recently turned fullback has the ability to cover anywhere in the backline as well as the all-important dummy half duties. His speed around the ruck could also prove a valuable asset in the Origin arena.

Finally, there's been strong mail north of the border that boom Bronco David Fifita is close to snaring a bench spot. Fifita hasn't received the game time many were expecting this season, but has still shown enough in limited time to be in contention. Has the versatility to cover both edges, a middle forward role and the centres.

POSSIBLE QUEENSLAND TEAM

1.      Kalyn Ponga

2.      Corey Oates

3.      Will Chambers

4.      Michael Morgan

5.      Dane Gagai

6.      Cameron Munster

7.      Daly Cherry-Evans

8.      Josh Papalii

9.      Ben Hunt

10.  Jai Arrow

11.  Matt Gillett

12.  Felise Kaufusi

13.  Josh McGuire

14.  Moses Mbye

15.  David Fifita

16.  Joe Ofahengaue

17.  Dylan Napa