QUEENSLAND are set to field a brand new left edge for the State of Origin series decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Meanwhile, the latest on Boyd Cordner’s fitness for game three.

And the future of Cronulla veteran Luke Lewis.

Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper has all the big ticket rugby league items in The Mail.

Round 20

MAROONS’ NEW LEFT EDGE

THE Maroons are planning to field a new-look lightning left edge for the Origin III decider, with young gun Cameron Munster tipped to be the left centre and Michael Morgan to wear the No.6 jumper made famous by the King Wally Lewis.

Aside from being 18th man for Origin II, Munster went close to edging out Anthony Milford to play five-eighth in Origin I.

A natural footballer who now looks equally at home at five-eighth as he did at fullback for the Storm, there is no question he will handle Origin football at left centre for Queensland.

With Morgan favoured to play five-eighth, the Maroons are in search of a new utility on the bench who can cover a variety of positions.

The contenders? Daly Cherry-Evans, Corey Norman and Ben Hunt. There is no question Cherry-Evans is in career best form.

Despite all the noise about his cards being marked from his six previous Origin appearances and the Gold Coast Titans backflip, if ever Queensland are going to pick him the time is now.

At 28, he has matured immensely as a player in the past two seasons, particularly this year where the arrival of Blake Green at Manly has allowed DCE to play more of a natural, instinctive style.

The smoky for the Maroons is Ben Hunt. Hunt was called into the Maroons camp ahead of Origin II after being sent back to reserve grade with the Ipswich Jets.

Coach Kevin Walters is a huge fan and after an endorsement from Allan Langer earlier in the week, he is well and truly in the mix.

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.

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BOYD ON SONG FOR SERIES DECIDER

BLUES captain Boyd Cordner has left a mighty impression among the NSW Origin camp in terms of leadership.

Despite picking up a torn calf in Origin II, the Blues captain is guaranteed to be selected for the series-decider.

Boyd Cordner in action for NSW. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

The Blues value his contribution so much there are no question marks about his inclusion, irrespective of the fact he is still racing the clock.

The line about “let it burn” after the loss in Sydney sums up how Cordner has grown into the leadership role.

Cordner won’t have played a game since the ANZ Stadium loss on June 21 but that won’t bother the Blues. His contribution on and off the field in terms of the way he leads is so strong they will back him to be right for Suncorp.

Which leads us to the next interesting question.

If Cordner was unavailable, who would be next in line to be captain? Aaron Woods is Tigers captain but has only been afforded limited minutes in Origins I and II. Our tip would be James Maloney.

Maloney has a wealth of big-game experience and despite his penchant for giving away penalties, the captaincy would not phase him one bit.

Will there be any changes for the Blues for Origin III? Not unless they are injury or suspension enforced.

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BLUES’ HUGE ASSIGNMENT

THE ghosts of Origin series past will be ever-present at the Suncorp Stadium decider.

The Blues face a monumental assignment in terms of winning a series-deciding match in Queensland. In 10 attempts, they’ve only managed it twice. The first time was 1994, the second 2005.

The captain for all three games in the 1994 series was Laurie Daley, the Blues coach was Gus Gould and game III of the series was Mal Meninga’s 38th and final Origin match.

This time around it will most likely be Cooper Cronk’s final match for the Maroons.

And even though the one-and-only Johnathan Thurston won’t play, there is guaranteed to be a farewell JT theme given the ten series victories he’s featured in.

In 2005 it took the return of Andrew Johns in combination with Danny Buderus to help orchestrate a brilliant NSW comeback from 0-1 down in the series.

If the Blues can salvage this series, it will go down in Origin folklore as one of the great fight backs. What does it mean for Daley as coach?

Plenty of people have been asking the question all series. At a lunch before the series started, Daley hinted he may walk away at the end of his fifth year at the helm.

But surely if NSW can orchestrate one of the great Origin upsets at Suncorp, then Daley could have a change of heart.

MIXED RESPONSE TO JOEY’S TOUGH LOVE

WE loved the frank appraisal of the Blues performance from the Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns after Origin II that the team played “dumb” football.

As much as any other retired NSW player, Johns has earned the right to shoot straight from the hip when it comes to his analysis.

Rest assured it wasn’t overly well-received among some in the Blues inner-sanctum.

LEWIS TO DECIDE FUTURE

THE future of two-time premiership-winner Luke Lewis is expected to be resolved within the next fortnight.

The Clive Churchill Medal winner wants to remain at the Sharks but there are three other NRL clubs also closely monitoring the situation.

Given the form the 33-year-old has been in lately the black, white and blue army of fans are guaranteed to want Lewis to play on for one more season.