Savage axings, surprise snubs highlight Origin's ruthless side as unluckiest stars revealed

The debate over who should represent their state in the Origin arena has finally come to an end, with Billy Slater and Laurie Daley unveiling their new-look teams.

A number of debutants have been named, while experienced premiership heroes were informed they would not play for the Maroons or NSW Blues in game one.

Both coaches cited various reasons for the absence of former mainstays in their teams. Here are the unluckiest players to miss out on a spot in game one.

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New South Wales Blues

Dylan Edwards

The four-time premiership winner was NSW's fullback in all three games last year, but Daley has opted to take the team in a different direction and recalled James Tedesco.

Edwards did push a strong case to retain his spot on the team and Daley admitted that selectors considered utilising the Panthers gun in a bench role.

In the end, it was deemed that Edwards "wasn't the right fit" for a spot on the bench.

Greg Alexander, a Penrith legend and former NSW advisor, was surprised to see Edwards axed from the squad entirely.

"I feel for Dylan," Alexander said on SEN radio on Monday.

"Dylan is in better form this year than he was last year. He's been in brilliant form.

"You can't deny Teddy has been in brilliant form. I don't think Laurie could make the wrong decision."

Angus Crichton

He may be rugby bound at the end of the season, but Crichton was hopeful that he would retain his spot as a second-rower for the Blues one last time.

The Roosters gun has been a reliable force for the Blues in recent series, but he was overlooked by selectors in favour of Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau'atu.

Daley said he could not looked past "arguably the best backrower" in the game.

"Hudson has been arguably the best backrower, and I think Haumole over the last six weeks has been demanding selection, so hard to deny," he said.

Jackson Ford

The Warriors forward sits second to Nathan Cleary on the Dally M leaderboard after 11 rounds, but it wasn't enough to get him a Blues jumper.

Ford's form this season has not come as a surprise to his coach Andrew Webster, who said his star player had been producing a similar level "for a long time."

But ultimately his inability to move to an edge if required cost the mobile middle.

"We needed someone who can play on an edge if required, and Jackson is probably a guy that just plays through the middle," Daley told reporters on Monday.

"There are always people who are unlucky but we feel this is a really good team."

Tom Jenkins

The battle for a spot on the wing was fierce, with the like of Casey McLean, Tolu Koula, Josh Addo-Carr and Campbell Graham all strong contenders.

Brian To'o was without doubt going to remain on the right wing for the Blues, but his Penrith teammate pushed a strong case to join him on the opposite edge.

Jenkins is the competition's leading try scorer (18) this season and has showed no signs of slowing down for the Panthers as they look to secure yet another premiership.

The man they call 'Milky' had earned praise from several league greats in the build-up to selection and was named by Mark Geyer as a "smoky" to don the sky blue jumper.

It seems as though Penrith felt he was a strong chance too, with the club posting an interestingly timed tweet about his recent performances moments after he was snubbed by NSW.

Keaon Koloamatangi

Koloamatangi voiced his ambition to earn a call-up to the Origin arena in the lead-up and was a clear pick in many pundits eyes.

The Rabbitohs front rower has been in superb form this season and has inked a $1 million-a-season deal with the Dragons as a reward for his elite status.

He has made 11 tackle breaks and averaged 169 run metres for South Sydney so far this season.

QUEENSLAND MAROONS

Reece Walsh

Coach Slater was given a headache when it came to naming his starting fullback, with Reece Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kalyn Ponga all options to wear the No.1.

Ponga came out on top in that battle while Tabuai-Fidow claimed a spot at centre. Walsh, however, did not earn a spot in the squad at all.

It came as a surprise to many that Walsh was not named on the extended bench, especially as he earned the tag as the best player in the game in last year's finals series, with unmatched game breaking ability.

Slater kept his reasonings for overlooking the Clive Churchill Medallist brief, stating: "He is getting there".

"We know what he is capable of, he knows what he is capable of," he continued.

"I've got a great relationship with Reece and I have a lot of time for him.

"It was difficult (to leave Walsh out), but we've all seen what Kalyn has done at this level and also with the Knights this year."

Daly Cherry-Evans

Just 12 months after losing his captaincy and position in the halves for the Maroons, Cherry-Evans was again overlooked for a spot in the team.

The 37-year-old was considered a chance to earn another run in the Queensland jumper after Tom Dearden was injured. Slater made clear that the veteran playmaker was considered.

Even though he has settled in comfortably in his new colours at the Roosters, the Maroons coach looked to his halves partner at Bondi to replace Dearden.

"Every option is looked at," he said when Cherry-Evans' name was mentioned.

"Whether you're 18 years old or 38, that's irrelevant for me.

"It's how you play the game and who the best person is for that position to play for Queensland. This is Queensland's team and every option is considered.

"We feel really confident in Sam Walker being the best halfback for Queensland."

Murray Taulagi

There was some confusion over the past week as to whether Taulagi was eligible for selection for the Maroons due to the wording used to explain his recovery timeline.

The Cowboys star has been sidelined for the club due to concussion he suffered in round eight, with Todd Payten saying at the time he'd be out for "several weeks".

Taulagi did not take to the field in Magic Round as he was "not ready yet" but should be set to go in two weeks' time against the Raiders.

Payten ultimately conceded Taulagi had not been ruled out of contention for Queensland, as he would be medically fit to play by the week of game one.

Payten made clear that he was in no way interfering with that potential selection.

"I'll tell you there is no way, shape or form that we would ever stand in front of anyone's road to representing their state or national team," he said on Saturday.

"(Taulagi) can return after the Rabbitohs game ... so it's up to Queensland, what they pick and who they go with."

Jack Howarth

The talented centre was in line for an Origin start for the first time this season following the revised eligibility rules introduced at the start of the season- and was clearly close to being selected, given he was named in the team The Courier-Mail reported on Sunday.

It was widely expected that Howarth would earn a spot on the team, meaning that Gehamat Shibasaki would be dropped. Instead, Slater retained the Bronco.

Jake Clifford

With his club teammate out of action due to injury, Clifford emerged as a potential player that could fill the boots of Dearden in the Maroons starting line-up.

He had the perfect chance to show Slater that he was the man for the job when he faced the Roosters in Magic Round, taking on both Sam Walker and Cherry-Evans.

The battle not only was the last chance to push his case for Origin selection, but it was also a celebration of his milestone 100th game in the NRL.

The Roosters lost the match, but Walker won the jersey.