The Queensland Maroons will be looking to take the 2016 series with a win Wednesday night. Photo / Getty Images
The Queensland Maroons will be looking to take the 2016 series with a win Wednesday night. Photo / Getty Images
Queensland
The full Queensland State of Origin 2016 team list and profiles for Kevin Walters' Maroons squad.
Fullback - Darius Boyd Age: 28 Origins: 24 Relished being handed the No.1 jersey for Origin I, and with his NRL efforts rivalling his career-best 2010 form, has earned Darren Lockyer comparisons from Wayne Bennett.
Winger - Corey Oates Age: 21 Origins: 1 The towering former backrower is expected to enjoy a dry Suncorp Stadium track after receiving a crash course in Origin in a typically tough game one arm wrestle on debut in Sydney.
Centre - Greg Inglis Age: 29 Origins: 28 Still to silence the critics after failing to fire South Sydney in the NRL. The Maroons will need to get Origin's leading try scorer involved early if they want their sleeping giant to finally wake.
Centre - Justin O'Neill Age: 25 Origins: 1 Some debate over whether he should have remained on the field after a head knock but showed no sign of distress in game one, setting up Queensland's only try with quick hands and looking at home in defence.
Winger - Dane Gagai Age: 25 Origins: 2 Overcame an emotional week in which he farewelled his grandmother to stand tall for the Maroons in game one. Will be keen to repeat last year's spectacular Origin debut in their record 52-6 game three romp.
Five-eighth - Johnathan Thurston Age: 33 Origins: 34 Is there anything Thurston can't do? The Cowboys playmaker appears as unstoppable as ever after successfully lobbying Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for a new stadium in Townsville.
Halfback - Cooper Cronk Age: 32 Origins: 17 Added to his legend by somehow overcoming a rolled ankle days before game one to help inspire Queensland's opening 6-4 with an astute kicking game.
Prop - Matt Scott Age: 30 Origins: 20 Queensland's No.1 forward will have even more pressure to lift against NSW's Gallen-led monster pack after the loss of Nate Myles (knee).
Hooker - Cameron Smith (captain) Age: 32 Origins: 37 Outright Origin games record holder, undisputed Maroons leader and rugby league great. Will ensure there is no complacency as they look to seal series No.10 in 11 years.
Prop - Josh McGuire Age: 26 Origins: 3 Down and out last year with a ruptured Achilles, McGuire has suddenly emerged as one of the country's elite front-rowers. Superior mobility and footwork helped him match NSW's much bigger brutes in Sydney.
Second row - Matt Gillett Age: 27 Origins: 13 Hard running backrower with superb hands, Gillett has suddenly become one of the first picked by Queensland selectors after career-best form for Brisbane.
Second row - Sam Thaiday Age: 31 Origins: 26 May have made biggest game one impact with post match comment on live TV, but the mobile backrower still looms as a handful for NSW - especially against a tiring pack.
Lock - Corey Parker Age: 34 Origins: 17 May now be sporting grey hair but Parker is hardly slowing down, negotiating a two-year Brisbane contract extension that will means he could taunt NSW until at least 2018.
Interchange:
Michael Morgan Age: 24 Origins: 4 Will be out to make up for lost time after copping a head knock and taken from the field early in game one. Even still, he made a bigger impact than NSW utility Dylan Walker.
Aidan Guerra Age: 28 Origins: 7 Considered fortunate to retain his spot for game one, Nate Myles' injury may have given Guerra another reprieve for the second. Loyalty ensured his selection - time for out of form Guerra to repay it.
Josh Papalii Age: 24 Origins: 5 Canberra juggernaut will be out to ensure a memorable Suncorp Stadium Origin swan song for sparring partner Paul Gallen in game two.
Jacob Lillyman Age: 32 Origins: 11 Unlucky to be the only incumbent overlooked for game one, the Warriors forward is a ready-made pack replacement for hard head Myles for Origin II.
Fullback Matt Moylan will be looking to build on his game one performance. Photo / Getty Images
New South Wales
The full New South Wales State of Origin 2016 team list and profiles for Laurie Daley's Blues squad.
Fullback - Matt Moylan Age: 25 Origins: 1 A couple of nervous moments under the high ball on debut, but was still one of the Blues' most dangerous players with the ball. Can expect another bombing barrage from Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
Wing - Josh Mansour Age: 26 Origins: 1 His left edge got caught short for Dane Gagai's try in game one, but his hard work coming out of his own end in the second half was invaluable. More of the same needed from kick-off.
Centre - Michael Jennings Age: 28 Origins: 16 Didn't see much open space in the opener at a slippery ANZ Stadium, and will be hoping to get in the action early and often on the drier track at Suncorp Stadium.
Centre: Dylan Walker Age: 21 Origins: 1 Handed an opportunity to put an infamous nine-minute cameo behind him with a second jumper for game two. Thrown into the starting side after the injury to Josh Morris.
Wing - Blake Ferguson Age: 26 Origins: 2 Made an uneventful return to Origin in game one, limited to just grunt work coming out of his own territory. Needs to go looking for the ball more.
Five-eighth - James Maloney Age: 30 Origins: 4 One of the Blues' best in game one, setting up the Blues' only try, saving another and kicking astutely. His only downside was being unable to turn a mountain of late possession into more points.
Halfback - Adam Reynolds Age: 25 Origins: 1 Missed none of his 22 tackles in a solid debut, but did misfire on a relatively easy conversion that ultimately was the difference in game one. Like Maloney, needs to find the killer blow in game two.
Prop - Aaron Woods Age: 25 Origins: 9 A key figure in the Blues forward pack, Woods was the best of the Blues big men in an outstanding first stint in game one but didn't come back on until late in the piece and barely got involved.
Hooker - Robbie Farah Age: 32 Origins: 14 Kicked smartly out of dummy half with his left boot in game one and will be eager to prove his worth at Suncorp after missing the game three humiliation last year.
Prop - James Tamou Age: 27 Origins: 12 A surprise starter in game one, Tamou was a tower of strength in the opening exchanges but had a quiet second stint. Also announced his emotional exit from Townsville to his Cowboys teammates last week.
Second row - Greg Bird Age: 31 Origins: 16 Did his best to upset the apple cart when he came on midway through the first half in Origin I and racked up 35 tackles. Gets a starting role after first Boyd Cordner then Wade Graham were ruled out of Origin II and his experience could be key at hostile Suncorp Stadium.
Second row - Josh Jackson Age: 25 Origins: 4 Confirmed his role as a defensive specialist with just nine touches in 71 minutes in game one. Not a part of the Blues' attacking game plan.
Lock - Paul Gallen (capt) Age: 34 Origins: 22 Was typically busy in game one but has made a bigger impact in previous games and is now just 80 minutes away from having his Blues farewell ruined by yet another series defeat.
Interchange:
Tyson Frizell Age: 24 Origins: Debut A late call-up after Wade Graham's suspension, Frizell makes his debut after twice being named 18th man in the past year. The Dragons' forward is a dangerous hole-runner who can also mix it up in the front row because of his footwork. Will likely come on for Gallen in the first half, with Bird to switch infield.
David Klemmer Age: 22 Origins: 4 Got his big legs pumping but failed to really make a dent in the Maroons' defensive line in game one. Enjoyed a breakout game in the second fixture last year and could make another mark in Brisbane.
Andrew Fifita Age: 26: Origins: 5 Brought the game to life with a series of mammoth charges when he finally entered the action in the second half, but the Blues didn't take advantage. Will be relied upon again to bring the energy.
Jack Bird Age: 21: Origins: Debut Called into the Blues side after the injury to Josh Morris. He'll try to spark the Blues off the bench. Should see more minutes than Walker did in Game I.
