Veterans Matt Scott and Darius Boyd have missed Queensland State of Origin selection while coach Kevin Walters also left Corey Oates and Daly Cherry-Evans out of his team.

Andrew McCullough has won the race to replace Cameron Smith at hooker while injury clouds hang over both Ben Hunt and Josh McGuire.

Jai Arrow, Felise Kaufusi and McCullough will make their Origin debuts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Scott’s omission will turn most heads with selector Gene Miles guaranteeing Scott would make the team.

It flies in the face of Queensland’s history of sticking loyal to those that have served the jersey.

“I’m pretty sure if Matty Scott’s standing up he’ll be named at No.8,” Miles told NRL.com in March.

“What people don’t realise is that he’s coming back from major knee surgery so he’s not going to be the Matt Scott of old straight away.

“It’s going to take him six or eight games to get back in the swing of things.

“He’s still charging onto the ball. He might not be as dominant as he has been previously but that’s just a matter of confidence.

“We know what to expect from Matt Scott. He’s played 20-odd game for Queensland and he’s never, ever let Queensland down.”

Rising sensational Kalyn Ponga was also left out of the Queensland team for Game I.

MAROONS: 1 Billy Slater 2 Valentine Holmes 3 Greg Inglis 4 Will Chambers 5 Dane Gagai 6 Cameron Munster 7 Ben Hunt 8 Dylan Napa 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Jarrod Wallace 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Felise Kaufusi 13 Josh McGuire 14 Michael Morgan 15 Josh Papalii 16 Coen Hess 17 Jai Arrow