State of Origin 2018 ... this year it will be different !
Why?
Well QLD has pensioned of a raft of players who have been the spine of the team this past decade.
I no particular order ...
Cooper Cronk
Johnathan Thursten
Camron Smith
Darius Boyd
Matt Gillett (injured)
Corey Oates
Matt Scott
With the rep-football retired Johnathan Thurston (37 matches), Cameron Smith (42) and Cooper Cronk (38) - plus Scott (22) and Boyd (28) - out of the squad, Queensland will be missing a combined 167 matches of experience for the series opener on June 6.
In the named team, only Billy Slater (29) and new captain Greg Inglis (30) have played more than 10 matches for the Maroons.
The uncapped players include Brisbane Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough, the Gold Coast Titans' Jai Arrow and the Melbourne Storm's Felise Kaufusi.
Maroons squad: Billy Slater, Valentine Holmes, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Ben Hunt, Dylan Napa, Andrew McCullough, Jarrod Wallace, Gavin Cooper, Felise Kaufusi, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan, Coen Hess, Josh Papalii, Jai Arrow.
Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt will be the new halves combination for the Maroons
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NSW has a new Coach, promising changes and excitement.
Expected NSW Squad:
James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, James Roberts, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell, Boyd Cordner (c), Jake Trbojevic.
Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, David Klemmer, Jack de Belin, Angus Crichton. Reserves: Nick Cotric, Tariq Sims, Ryan James.
Comments, thoughts and feelings?