Queensland State of Origin team revealed before official announcement

Dane Gagai scores a try during his Queensland Maroons debut in 2015. Photo / Getty

Queensland is set to heed Wendell Sailor's plea to "stay loyal" by selecting Nate Myles and Dane Gagai in its team for State of Origin I.

The Courier-Mail leaked the team ahead of the official announcement on Tuesday night - confirming North Queensland grand final hero Kyle Feldt had paid the price for a horror showing against Brisbane last weekend.

Newcastle's Gagai has been rewarded for strong early season form with a position on the wing, while retired veteran Justin Hodges spot in the centres has been handed to debutant Justin O'Neill.

Origin veteran Sam Thaiday has been pushed to the bench in favour of the bustling Nate Myles, while Michael Morgan holds down the utility spot on the sidelines.

Brisbane winger Corey Oates, 21, is also set to make his Origin debut. The team will be officially announced at 7:30pm AEST.

Here is the projected team, with their club team and number of Origin appearances in brackets.

Queensland Maroons Team

1. Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos - 23)
2. Corey Oates (Brisbane Broncos - 0)
3. Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs - 27)
4. Justin O'Neill (North Queensland Cowboys - 0)
5. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights - 1)
6. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys - 33)
7. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm - 15)
8. Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys - 19)
9. Cameron Smith (c) (Melbourne Storm - 36)
10. Nate Myles (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles - 29)
11. Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters - 6)
12. Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos - 12)
13. Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos - 14)
14. Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys - 3)
15. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos - 25)
16. Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders - 4)
17. Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos - 2)

Sailor, who featured in 17 games for the Maroons, had earlier called for new coach Kevin Walters to stick with Myles and Gagai.

pumped for @QLDmaroons announcement - hope we stick with QLD tradition & stay loyal pick Nate Myles / Dane Gagai for game1 #loyalty #QLD

— Wendell Sailor (@RealBigDell) May 23, 2016

Myles' form has been shaky this season as the 30-year-old struggles to find the form that saw him become a lynchpin in the state side.

Even Myles' own grandfather told him he needed to sharpen his act if he was to play out the Origin series this year.

"I am not going to put my hand up and expect a jersey," Myles told The Courier-Mail earlier this month.

"It has never been laid on the table for me. It has to be earned and it always has been with Queensland.

"With a new coach everyone has to make sure they are playing their best. I have a sh**load of room to improve.

"I spoke to my granddad two days ago and he told me I won't be in this Queensland side because of the way I'm playing. It is always good to get that honesty from him."

Sailor, however, seemed to think the Manly forward had done enough for Queensland in series previous to warrant his selection.

Tallis held a similar opinion to Sailor, arguing that Myles' history in the jersey should be enough to allow him to keep his spot.

"In 25 or 28 games for Queensland, he's never played bad for that jersey," the former Queensland skipper told Fox Sport's NRL Tonight.

"You don't own the jerseys. He's come out and every time he's played, he's played fantastic.

"He's probably another guy that's not in the form, he'd be the first to admit that, and I think that he has.

"But until he plays bad in that jersey and he can't cut it at that level, I think he deserves to keep his jersey."

Sailor also backed young-gun Gagai to make his second appearance for his state, despite the dismal form of club side Newcastle.

Gagai has regularly been a shining light for the Knights at fullback - one of only a few players managing to hold onto their own personal form in spite of the team having won just one game all season.

Laurie Daley announced his Blues side yesterday, with five debutants - Dylan Walker, Adam Reynolds, Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour and Tyson Frizell - expected to be in the final 17 that runs out against Queensland next week.

New South Wales Blues team:

1. Matt Moylan, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Michael Jennings, 5. Josh Mansour, 6. James Maloney, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Paul Gallen (c), 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Greg Bird, 14. Dylan Walker, 15. James Tamou, 16. Andrew Fifita, 17. David Klemmer, 18. Tyson Frizell, 19. Josh Morris.