QUEENSLAND have been forced into a change to the winning side from State of Origin I, with Nate Myles failing to overcome a knee injury suffered early in Manly’s loss to the Panthers on Sunday.

The Maroons have made the obvious change, bringing in experienced Origin campaigner Jacob Lillyman for the 30-game veteran in what’s effectively a straight swap.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters said he was hopeful Myles would be available for game three but if he isn’t it’s possible that the hard nut front-rower has played his last game in maroon.

Walters said Myles was due to see a surgeon about the injury on Tuesday and refused to speculate about a timeframe for his return until that consultation was completed.

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Lillyman has been in excellent form for the Warriors so far this season, with Walters admitting it had been tough to leave the 32-year-old out, claiming he had been in the Maroons’ top three players in last year’s whopping game three victory.

“He was unlucky to miss out after his performance in game three last year,” Walters said.

“We like to reward those who’ve done the job before in the jersey.”

The Queensland side was called out in alphabetical order, so at this stage it is not known if Lillyman will come straight into the starting side for Myles or will take his place on the bench, with Broncos front-rower Josh McGuire pressing his case for a starting berth.

Other than Myles’ future, Walters and QRL chairman Peter Betros were also quizzed on the referees and said the officials from game one should keep their jobs despite stern post-match criticism from NSW coach Laurie Daley.

Betros was particularly strong in his view of Daley’s claims that the referees should be axed, saying that if the NRL listened to that advice it would be like “the lunatics running the asylum”.

Queensland did not name any shadow players “out of respect” to the players involved in the two games to be played on Monday, with Cronulla’s Ben Barba a possible addition to Maroons camp if he can get through the Sharks’ clash with the Cowboys unscathed.

Queensland team: Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Justin O’Neill, Dane Gagai, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), Jacob Lillyman, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Michael Morgan, Josh McGuire, Aidan Guerra, Josh Papalii.

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