BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

We are just eight sleeps away from State of Origin I in Adelaide but you have to wonder just how much sleep those Queenslanders up there north of the border really are getting.

Never have their backs been so firmly against the walls and that includes Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin’s ragtag 1995 ‘nobodies’. At least, they could blame Super League if they didn’t get the job done, right?

It is up to Queensland coach Wayne Bennett and assistants Mal Meninga and Neil Henry to remind these Maroons exactly what did happen in ’95. The Maroons shocked the Blues in one of the great sporting boil overs.

Many believe they’ll need this kind of spirit to even get close to this star-studded New South Wales squad.

NSW have class across the park and are spoiled for depth in every position.

Queensland will need to be tactically perfect with their selections and hope every bounce goes their way next Wednesday night. In saying that, yes QLD have been forced to select a bunch of rookies but that doesn’t mean they can’t use them to their advantage.

The Maroons’ best chance is attack.

My Blues XVII for Game I

1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Clint Gutherson, 4 Jack Wighton, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Jake Trbojevic, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Boyd Cordner, 13 Cameron Murray. Bench: 14 Dale Finucane, 15 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 16 Angus Crichton, 17 Luke Keary / Ryan Papenhuyzen.

TEDESCO’S KNEE

Incumbent Blues fullback James Tedesco is confident he will be fit to play in Adelaide but if he doesn’t make it, some are predicting Ryan Papenhuyzen to come straight into the team as the side’s custodian. But I’m not really fussed either way. The Melbourne Storm flyer has just won the Clive Churchill Medal but I’d be just as comfortable with Brad Fittler moving Clint Gutherson to fullback and slotting someone like Zac Lomax in to make his debut at centre. Papenhuyzen is going to play a role in this year’s series but will it be Game I? I’m not so sure.

BENCH SPOT / FIVE-EIGTH

I have Cody Walker ahead of Luke Keary in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary. But do you play Keary from the bench? These days you wouldn’t usually take a half on the bench but the XIII on the field is easily adjustable depending on the injury. Walker can push wider if an outside back is injured, allowing Keary to slide straight in with Cleary. The other one is, of course, Papenhuyzen. Imagine him running out at the back end of each half against a tiring Maroons line?

THE WINGERS

Speak to former Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk and he will tell you Daniel Tupou should be one of the first picked because of how dangerous is he is under the high ball. Josh Mansour and Nick Cotric are similar players and don’t pose the threat in the air that Tupou does. It helps he’s also in career-best form.

My Maroons XVII for Game I

1 AJ Brimson, 2 Corey Allan, 3 Brenko Lee, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Xavier Coates, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 Josh Papalii, 9 Ben Hunt, 10 Christian Welch, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Jaydn Su’A, 13 Jai Arrow. Bench: 14 Harry Grant, 15 Kurt Capewell, 16 Moeaki Fotuaika, 17 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

TO FRIEND OR NOT TO FRIEND

Harry Grant is my first hooker picked for Queensland but he’s not in my starting line-up. The decision then is who starts out of Jake Friend or Ben Hunt? I’d go with Hunt who can come back later in the game and cover the halves if needed. Hunt just needs to keep the seat warm before they release Grant after about 20 minutes.

BABY PROPS MUST PERFORM

I have experienced front-rowers Josh Papalii and Christian Welch starting the game. Papalii is arguably the best big man in the sport and Welch will do his job. If everything is going well, QLD should be able to throw Harry Grant into the match alongside rookie tyros Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Let them off the leash and take it to the more fancied NSW pack.

MUNSTER

The enigmatic Storm five-eigth needs to have the series of his life but what is his best position for this QLD team? The more time he has with the ball in his hands the better off the Maroons will be but don’t be surprised if you see Munster popping up all over the field rather than being confined to one edge. That opens up AJ Brimson and possible opportunities running off Harry Grant.

@woodward_curtis

Tickets for State of Origin I at the Adelaide Oval