Roberts will give Qld nightmares: Bennett

Cynics may suggest all conquering Queensland have not lost much sleep over NSW's State of Origin threat in the past.

But Wayne Bennett reckons James Roberts' Blues selection this year would give the Maroons nightmares.

Roberts gets his final chance to impress NSW coach Laurie Daley before May 31's Origin opener when he returns from a knee injury in Brisbane's Friday night NRL clash with Wests Tigers.

Roberts is believed to be vying for a Blues centre berth along with the likes of Jack Bird, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Dylan Walker as NSW attempt to break Queensland's Origin stranglehold.

NSW need an X-factor to spark a Blues revival after Queensland claimed 10 of the last 11 Origin series.

Roberts, 24, seemed a long shot of earning a maiden Blues jersey after missing Brisbane's last round win over Manly.

But former Queensland coach Bennett took the unusual step of urging NSW selectors to pick Roberts ahead of his injury return, saying the Maroons would lose sleep over the Broncos strike weapon.

"I tell you what, if he is playing for NSW there would be a lot of Queensland players going to bed the night before thinking about how they are going to stop him," Bennett said.

"If they put someone else in there they won't be thinking about that bloke.

"That's the biggest fear - if you are worrying about what they are going to do to you.

"Anyway, that's NSW's choice."

Roberts - considered the NRL's fastest player - will learn his fate when the Blues team is announced on Monday night.