Cameron Smith makes six changes to Queensland Maroons side as debutant picked
Queensland Maroons great Cameron Smith has made six changes to his side for Origin I as the state attempts to wrestle back the shield.
Billy Slater's team - which will be named next Monday - will be impacted by injuries, with Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt both out.
Xavier Coates, who missed Origin III last year through injury should return, along with Tom Gilbert. Cameron Munster is also back.
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Smith has made the decision to hand Beau Fermor a debut for the Maroons, with Jeremiah Naniai preferred on the bench.
Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. Getty
"He's been in great form for the Titans," he said of Fermor on Nine's 100% Footy.
Former Blues coach Phil Gould described it as an "inspired selection".
"I like that. He's a really good player and I think he would excel playing with those great players in Origin," he said.
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Smith has also selected Munster at five-eighth with last year's No.6 Tom Dearden on the bench as a utility.
The former hooker believes the injury to Hunt helped Slater avoid a "tough decision" between the two.
Beau Fermor of the Titans makes a break to score a try. Getty
"The discussion's been around Tom Dearden and the utility value that he brings," he said.
"He's pretty much a young version of Ben Hunt, plays in the halves but can play a little bit of 9 as well. He is a tough customer, built for Origin, we've seen what he's produced for Queensland already. You could throw him anywhere, through the halves, No.9, even through the middle as an extra ball-playing 13. I think he'll do well."
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The man Dearden could run on and replace is Harry Grant.
Grant hasn't been sighted in first grade since round six after suffering a hamstring injury.
Smith believes he'll be back next week with a "big test" awaiting him.
"He's been out for four weeks with a hamstring injury. He will play this week I believe and Billy will have a very close eye on the way he performs and the way his injury goes. If not, Gus' man Reed Mahoney might get the call up, he's in great form," he said.
Cameron Smith's game one Queensland team
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Xavier Coates 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Beau Fermor 13. Pat Carrigan 14. Tom Dearden 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Jeremiah Nanai 17. Moeaki Fotuaika 18th man Kurt Mann
