MAROONS selectors could decide to lure legends Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston out of retirement if Queensland get dominated in game one.

The big three have maintained they are content with their decisions to retire, but given it is Billy Slater’s swan song series, Queensland may opt to bring one or more of the trio into the side, if the Maroons’ spine fails in the Origin opener.

That is the opinion of Fox League expert Braith Anasta, who feels the Queenslanders may resort to a similar approach to when they brought Allan Langer out of retirement, if Andrew McCullough, Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt fail to fire.

Upcoming Matches

“I actually do believe that may happen,” Anasta said of a recall for one or more of the retired trio.

“You will hear the rumblings if they come out in game one, don’t produce, get smashed and Ben Hunt is ordinary.

“Then you’ve got to look at Thurston coming back into the side or Cronk coming back into the side.

LIVE stream the State of Origin Series LIVE and on-demand from overseas. Grab your Watch NRL Early Bird State of Origin Pass now >

“Let’s not forget their teammate, their hero, their confidante in Billy Slater is playing his last Origin series.

“He wants to win and they will want to send him out on a big note.

“So they might get Thurston or Cronk, they’ll do anything to win.

“They’ve done it before with Alfie Langer so why not?

“We all know Queenslanders have got a few tricks up their sleeve.”

Queensland halfback Ben Hunt will be the Maroons player under the most pressure to retain his spot if the Maroons lose, according to Anasta.

“Ben Hunt is filling the shoes of Johnathan Thurston and the last three weeks for the Dragons he has been struggling,” Anasta said.

“He’s not at his best and he’s carrying that form into an Origin series, where for the first time he is in that No.7 jersey.

“There is so much pressure on him as a No.7 at Origin level and if he doesn’t produce it is an easy decision to get rid of him.

“If the team doesn’t perform it will be his fault, that’s how Origin is.”

When it came to NSW and the players that are under pressure to perform, Anasta felt Tom Trbojevic was top of the list, due to him being picked out of position.

“For NSW it has to be Tom Trbojevic, even though I rate him and he is a great player,” Anasta said.

“I expect him to play well, but he is playing on the wing out of position and we have Nick Cotric waiting in the wings.

“So he needs to perform or he’ll be gone, it is as simple as that.

“There are no second chances for Tom and that’s what puts him under so much pressure.

“He needs to carry the ball strong out of his own end and he’s not renowned for that.

“He needs to put the flamboyance away and knuckle down and roll the sleeves up, so there is a lot of pressure on him.”

Get the ultimate NRL experience on your phone with the new FOX LEAGUE App. Download it NOW for FREE on iOS and Android!