QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has denied there will be any angst among Maroons players following the news Greg Inglis will be guaranteed a spot in the Origin I team providing he is fit and healthy.

Inglis has played 126 minutes of first grade in 12 months, but that hasn’t deterred Queensland chairman of selectors Gene Miles telling NRL.com that if Inglis is fit, he’ll be picked in the centres for the series opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6.

Inglis returned from an ACL injury at left centre in South Sydney’s Round 1 loss to the Warriors but was forced from the field six minutes into the second half of Saturday’s loss to the Panthers for a concussion test and played no further part in the game.

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“If Greg stands up, he’s in,” Miles said.

“I know that is going to cause angst among players but there has to be a position found for Greg.

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“All things being equal, we have got an abundance of outside [backs] guys.

“If Billy Slater is up and running, then Darius (Boyd) will have to be found a spot on that left hand side where he and Greg had great success for a long period of time.

The combination of Darius Boyd and Greg Inglis on Queensland’s left flank has constantly troubled the NSW defence. Photo: Mark Kolbe Source: Getty Images

“They have scored so many tries over there and have the best record in Origin history on that left-hand side.

“It is the best left hand side combination we have ever seen, and the stats prove that.”

Speaking on Queenslanders Only on Tuesday, Walters believed Inglis will be warmly welcomed back into the squad.

“I don’t think there will be any angst among the players with a player of Greg’s calibre coming back in,” Walters said.

“He’s played 30 Origins for Queensland and last year we had makeshift centres.

“Michael Morgan and Darius Boyd were the two centres for games two and three, so if Greg Inglis is available, he’s going to slot straight back in somewhere.

“He mightn’t be in the centres yet, he might be playing somewhere else, but he’ll be in the team somewhere I can guarantee you that.”

With a raft of young contenders emerging to continue Walters’ transition from the squad that dominated for a decade to the next generation, Miles said it was important to bring Inglis back into the fold for the first time since Game Three of the 2016 series.

“Greg went through a year of rehab on his knee and his mind and he’ll be desperate to get back at that level with a lot of his friends,” Miles explained.

“A couple have retired and a couple have been moved on but Greg is going to be excellent.

“We had eight debutants last year and we’ve got to have them in and around guys like Greg before they retire.

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“He’ll be straight in without any doubts.

“Every time he has pulled the Queensland jersey on, he’s done more than enough for us.

“He’s a big body and a fit GI throws a lot of fear into the opposition. He’s intimidating.

“He’s a big part to the team and he’s captain of the Rabbitohs now with big responsibility on his shoulders.”