League: Origin spotlight to test Ballin's nerve

Queensland hooker Matt Ballin makes his State of Origin debut tonight. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Queensland coach Mal Meninga concedes he has no idea how rookie hooker Matt Ballin will handle the pressure-cooker intensity of State of Origin football.

Himself a veteran of 44 interstate battles as either a player or coach, Meninga said all the wisdom in the world that he could impart would do little to help the 26-year-old once he stepped onto the ANZ Stadium turf surrounded by 70,000 pro-NSW fans tomorrow night.

"We all realise that you have to experience the arena, you've got to get out there and you've got to play before you get a real sense of what Origin's all about," Meninga said.

"We've got a couple of Origin rookies in our side that I think can handle it - we wouldn't have picked them otherwise.

"(Ballin's) been part of the system for the last couple of years.

"He knows what it takes to wear the Maroon jersey, he's played in big games before he still has to get out there and experience what Origin's all about but I firmly believe that he's up to it."

Such has been Queensland's dominance and luck with injury in recent years that Meninga hasn't been forced to blood players in key positions.

Even when they lost skipper Darren Lockyer for the entire 2008 series they had former test halfback Scott Prince to bring into the side.

Ballin has been with the Maroons since the beginning of camp, but only got the nod for a start when Cameron Smith pulled out on Sunday due to ongoing concerns over his elbow injury.

Smith had worn the Queensland No 9 jumper for 19 straight games stretching back to the last game of the 2003 series before being ruled out of tomorrow's opener, with Meninga admitting the Maroons would feel his loss.

"He's the best hooker in the world, he's the leader of the Melbourne Storm, an integral part of the Queensland and Australian sides of recent times - he's an invaluable player for all sides," Meninga said.

"We can't replace Cameron but we've got a very good player in Matty Ballin coming in and he'll do the job in his own fashion."

- AAP