Queensland's mounting injury toll and the sudden departure of Greg Inglis could coax Cameron Smith out of State of Origin retirement for this series.

Talk is circulating that Smith, who pulled the plug on his representative career prior to Origin last year, is warming to the idea of helping his beloved state if asked.

Jake Friend was all but certain to wear the No.9 for Queensland but the Roosters rake ruptured his biceps in the round passed.

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Dragons playmaker Ben Hunt was the next logical choice to play the role due to his experience at dummy-half off the bench for Queensland and Australia.

However, an ankle injury to Sea Eagles general Daly Cherry-Evans could mean Hunt pushes to halfback – leaving the hooking role open.

Incumbent Maroons rake Andrew McCullough and Cowboys hooker Jake Granville are the other genuine options but neither are in great form.

And with Smith in outstanding touch for the Storm, sitting equal-second on the Dally M Medal leaderboard, there are no doubts the 35-year-old would handle Origin again.

The former skipper is reportedly considering telling the selectors he's available.

"The whispers were rife around the game today that Cameron Smith is on the verge of announcing himself for Queensland," News Corp journalist Paul Kent told NRL 360.

"Now, there are many reasons why it should happen, one of which is the romance of sport and we can just find a terrific narrative.

“There’s a belief he didn’t get the farewell he should have got from Origin because he retired from Origin so abruptly last year just before the series began.

"Queensland, as hard as this is to say, are in their moment of need at the moment.

"They have had a terrible start to this season ... The Queensland spine right now is short one position and that depends whether they pick Hunt at halfback or [hooker].

“The story's going around. I don’t want to say that Cameron is definitely going to play – if anybody's asked tomorrow if Cameron is going to play, the answer will be no.

"But there is a little bit of momentum building here and I'll just say it would not surprise me if Cameron Smith runs out in that first game.”

Maroons coach Kevin Walters was questioned about Smith's status on Queenslanders Only on Wednesday.

Walters said there was zero chance of Smith returning.

“No, that won’t happen,” Walters said.

“Those boys [Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk] have been very clear on where they stand right now and we’ve got to respect that.

“All these guys moved on at some stage in their Origin careers and it’s time for the next generation of Maroons to come through and wear that jersey and make that jersey their own."

Still, crazier things have happened.

And Queensland has had champions come out of retirement before.

Allan Langer, aged almost 35, famously made a comeback to the Origin cauldron in game three of 2001, three years after his previous match for the Maroons.

Of course, Langer helped orchestrate a 40-14 win to seal a series victory for Queensland.

For NSW, Brad Fittler also emerged from rep retirement to lead the Blues to the 2004 series.

Perhaps Smith is the next champion to re-enter the Origin arena and produce something special.