QUEENSLAND have built a dynasty on the pick and stick theory but the Maroons squad is at a delicate point with ageing stars and some young guns knocking on the door, so incumbency is no guarantee.

New coach Kevin Walters has got some massive decisions ahead of him before Tuesday night’s announcement of the game one side, so foxsports.com.au has given him a helping hand by leaning on four Queensland legends to sort through the biggest selection headaches.

Nate Myles was dropped from the Kangaroos side and is yet to hit peak form for new club Manly this season but our four erstwhile selectors have stuck by one of the Maroons’ most reliable warriors.

Others weren’t so lucky with Dane Gagai left out of three of the four sides, veteran prop Jacob Lillyman missing out on two of the four sides and Aidan Guerra also inched out by two selectors.

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That opens the way for some bolters to make their debut, with all four selectors using the opportunity to blood at least one rookie.

Check out all four foxsports.com.au selectors’ teams below!

Injured Newcastle veteran Jarrod Mullen joins Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover on the Market Watch podcast to discuss the Knights’ woes and how the club can turn it around.

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STEVE RENOUF’S SIDE

Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai, Dane Nielsen, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Michael Morgan, Nate Myles, Gavin Cooper, Josh Papalii.

Renouf’s bolter: Gavin Cooper. First of all he’s a Murgon boy, so he’s from the same home town as me. I just love the way he plays footy. He’s very versatile, you’d run him out wide, he’s got a bit of pace and he’s a very skilled player for his size.

The strength: The greatest strength of this side is it’s good balance. They’ve got a spine with incredible talent and solidarity — you just look at Thurston, Cronk, Smith and Boyd and it’s a formidable base to build a side around.

The weakness: I think the loss of Justin Hodges will be difficult to cover. Obviously he was just so experienced and he was a big presence in that side. They’ve got the talent to cover it though.

Incumbents to miss out: Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra

Gavin Cooper would make his Origin debut in Steve Renouf’s side. Source: Getty Images

BEN IKIN’S SIDE

Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Nate Myles, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Josh Papalii, Josh McGuire, Aidan Guerra, Jacob Lillyman.

Ikin’s bolter: Morgan — not that his selection’s a surprise, just throwing him in at right centre might be a different approach to what others would take. He’s playing out of skin at the moment, and for me, while he could add some value coming on as a utility and potentially coming on through the middle as a bit of a loose forward on the edge, I’d prefer to have him out on the field for as long as possible. Because there’s so much conjecture and no real certainty about that right edge, I think he could easily slip from five-eighth to centre.

The strength: The left edge. Seriously, who would want to be defending against Greg Inglis and Corey Oates. Full stop.

The weakness: The only thing I’d say is that without a genuine utility on the bench you’re probably lacking one playmaking option should things go bad. But I’m planning for things to go right and Guerra spent a bit of time at five-eighth so if push comes to shove you could probably make some alterations.

Incumbents to miss out: Dane Gagai

Michael Morgan would start at centre in Ben Ikin’s side. Source: News Corp Australia

LOTE TUQIRI’S SIDE

Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Justin O’Neill, Kyle Feldt, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker. Interchange: Michael Morgan, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Chris McQueen.

Tuqiri’s bolter: Feldt — the club combination with O’Neill gets him over the line for me. It’s a pretty tough one to pick between him and Gagai but Gagai’s not playing in the best team at the moment and keeping that Cowboys clique together ticks a lot of boxes for Feldt.

The strength: The halves and just the combinations and experience in the side to know they’ve been there and done it before.

The weakness: Blokes who’ve never played before, so I guess it’s that right hand side just because O’Neill and Feldt have never played on that Origin stage before.

Incumbents to miss out: Dane Gagai, Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra

GARY BELCHER’S SIDE

Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Justin O’Neill, Kyle Feldt, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Nate Myles, Josh Papalii, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Michael Morgan, Jacob Lillyman, Josh McGuire, Aidan Guerra.

Belcher’s bolter: O’Neill and Feldt. I’d go with them because they’re playing well in a winning side and they’ve got a ready made combination. Gagai’s playing in a losing side and, although I think the selectors will stick with him, I’d go with the Cowboys pairing.

Kyle Feldt and Justin O’Neill’s Cowboys combination would get them a debut in Gary Belcher’s side. Source: Getty Images

The strength: The left edge. Greg Inglis back happy, not having to cover as many metres. He’s always lethal on the left side and he’s got a great finisher in Oates outside him so we won’t lose anything there.

The weakness: Potentially the right side combination making their debuts together. That would be the area if I was NSW I’d be trying to exploit, ball through the hands and kick-wise, because it’s a big stage with a different atmosphere to a grand final and the crowd’s all against them. I’m keen to see how they’ll respond to that.

Incumbents to miss out: Dane Gagai

The writer is on Twitter @glover—benny

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