FORMER Origin great and now selectors chairman Gene Miles has opened up about the personal pain he suffered in the wake of Queensland’s huge loss in game one in Brisbane.

His decision, along with fellow selector Darren Lockyer and coach Kevin Walters, to controversially omit champion fullback Billy Slater yet remain loyal to other players, whipped up a storm of protest from angry fans.

There was no place for the trio to hide after an Andrew Fifita-inspired NSW tore Queensland apart with their biggest victory ever at Suncorp Stadium.

This week, a candid Miles — who played 23 games for Queensland and first became a selector in 2001 at the urgings of Wayne Bennett — spoke to foxsports.com.au about the agonising task of picking the side for the opening game and the personal pain and abuse which followed Queensland’s crushing loss.

Upcoming Matches

COPPING IT ONLINE AND ON THE STREETS

“We copped a truckload of criticism,” Miles said.

Billy Slater celebrates victory in Origin II. Source: News Corp Australia

“It hurt. I take it personally. I think I am a nice, easy going guy.

“I know most of the critics are keyboard warriors with little better to do, but it does get to you.”

The vitriol even extended to Miles copping some verbal stick in public.

“I just laughed it off, but it hurts,” he confessed.

ORIGIN INDEX: Full stats for every player who’s ever played

“That goes for Kevvy too. They were saying some awful things about him which would hurt him because he takes things to heart more than most of us.

“It reflects back on us because we feel his pain.”

THE TOUGHEST CALL OF ALL

Miles said he hoped he never confronted another call like Slater.

“I don’t ever want to be in the situation again,” he said.

“I haven’t faced Billy yet but I intend to do that, we just haven’t crossed paths. I don’t know what he thinks of me but I just want to tell him how proud I was about how well he handled it and how he responded for us in game two.”

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are joined by player-manager Mario Tartak to discuss Benji Marshall, Sam Kasiano and who the NRL’s next super coach might be.

You can also subscribe via iTunes or for Android users, listen on the iPP Podcast Player app.

Miles admitted selectors felt obligated to show players the same loyalty which had worked for Queensland so many times previously.

But following a poor performance in game one and the howls of protest over Slater’s dumping, the champion Storm custodian was recalled to his No. 1 jumper and a number of other changes were ordered for Origin II.

Cronulla winger Valentine Holmes was handed his debut at the expense of an unlucky Corey Oates while Jarrod Wallace, Tim Glasby and giant youngster Coen Hess were all blooded to combat the Blues’ superior leg speed in the middle which caused so much damage in game one.

Queensland staged a stirring comeback to square the series and set up next week’s blockbuster.

RUGBY LEAGUE’S THANKLESS TASK

It can be a lonely place being a selector.

When Queensland won eight series straight from 2006 to 2013 the Queensland selectors barely got a mention, which is how they like it.

Miles recalled coming into the job in 2001 — the memorable series in which Bennett secretly snuck Allan Langer back from the UK to inspire Queensland to a game three series deciding win.

But the maroon wheels were wobbling even then.

SNUBBED: Why Queensland is ignoring DCE

They managed to retain the trophy in 2002 with a draw in game three only after a late try to Dane Carlaw before losing the next three series to NSW, then going 1-0 in 2005.

Staring down the barrel of an unprecedented four straight losses, alarm bells were ringing for the future of Origin with claims Queensland may never win another series.

Billy Slater celebrates victory with Dane Gagai. Source: News Corp Australia

They made changes in game two, some forced by injury, with fullback Clinton Schifcofske, winger Rhys Wesser, centre Josh Hannay, and Nate Myles starting and the big-hitting Tonie Carroll added to the bench.

THE GOLDEN RUN

They were down and seemingly out trailing 14-4 at half time before some Darren Lockyer magic in the dying minutes kickstarted them on their record-breaking roll.

“We were minutes away from losing four series straight until Locky swooped on that half volley and scored,” reflected Miles.

“We made changes, even though we only lost the first game by one point, but the real motivation from winning game two 30-6 was all the talk about Queensland not being up to playing Origin any more.

“That’s when the rot started for them (NSW).

“We had this freakish group of players come through so when we went into a selection meeting after that your number 1-3-4-6-7-8-9-10 were already picked.

“We really had very little debate because the only time we had to make changes was for injury or suspension.

“When Petero (Civoniceva) and Pricey (Steve Price) were phased out along came Matt Scott and Nate Myles.”

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME

Miles conceded Queensland desperately needed to find some front-rowers capable of taking them into the future.

“Petero and Pricey were the cornerstone of our early victories and Matt Scott and Nate Myles picked it up and ran with it,” he said.

“You don’t win State of Origins unless you have a good No. 8 and No. 10.

“They do the damage. It’s a shitty job, you don’t get rewarded for it, you just get belted and belted.

“You have to have them. They take the ball up, get belted, take it up again and get belted again.

“If you don’t have them, you don’t win.”