QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has remained loyal with his Maroons team for State of Origin Game 1 — but there is no room for loyalty towards Billy Slater.

At a function in Brisbane on Monday the Queensland Rugby League announced its team for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on May 31, including big changes to the backline and forward pack.

The selection surprises included:

— Darius Boyd selected ahead of Slater

— Kangaroos winger Valentine Holmes being overlooked

— Anthony Milford being called straight into the starting team ahead of Michael Morgan

— Star playmaker Johnathan Thurston was named in the No. 18 jumper and is rated “very unlikely” to be fit for Game 1

— Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa promoted to a starting position in the front row; and

— Veteran Nate Myles was also named in the front row despite injuring his knee this weekend.

Queensland will also be without star prop Matt Scott, Greg Inglis and retired lock Corey Parker.

Milford’s huge promotion to make his Origin debut in the No. 6 jumper ahead of Cowboys five-eighth Michael Morgan was described by Walters as the right thing to do.

He said naming Milford at five-eigth will give the Broncos star enough time to prepare to play that position while also giving Cowboys superstar Thurston an opportunity to produce a miracle and be declared fit to take on NSW in Origin I.

“Johnathan is obviously under a fitness cloud and given his position in the game and the way he’s served Queensland we feel it’s our right to provide an opportunity for him to maybe get himself fit and play,” Walters said.

“It’s unlikely and we felt the best way to handle the situation was to name a nominated 17 and then give Johnathan every chance to prove his fitness over the week. We won’t draw it out too long.”

OFFICIAL QUEENSLAND TEAM FOR ORIGIN I

1. Darius Boyd

2. Corey Oates

3. Will Chambers

4. Justin O’Neill

5. Dane Gagai

6. Anthony Milford

7. Cooper Cronk

8. Dylan Napa

9. Cameron Smith

10. Nate Myles

11. Josh Papalii

12. Matt Gillett

13. Josh McGuire

14. Michael Morgan

15. Sam Thaiday

16. Aidan Guerra

17. Jacob Lillyman

18. Johnathan Thurston

WALTERS BREAKS DOWN AFTER TOUGHEST ‘EVER’ CALL

QUEENSLAND chairman of selectors Gene Miles has described the decision to overlook Billy Slater as the toughest of his career.

Miles, who has been involved in Queensland State of Origin team selections for 17 years, said it was not easy to ignore the best fullback he’s ever seen.

“17 years (in Origin selections) and that is without a doubt the toughest decision we’ve had to make,” he said.

“He’s probably the best fullback I’ve ever seen and we didn’t make that call lightly. We had a lot of dialogue over it.”

Miles also said Slater was not happy when told the news he has not been selected.

“Billy has offered to assist in any way possible,” Miles said.

“He’s taken the decision. He’s obviously not happy about the decision, but he’s accepted it and said, ‘Whatever’s best for Queensland’.”

Walters added he did not think it was fair to put Slater under pressure by putting him straight back into the team.

“It was a really tough decision that we had to make around Billy,” Walters said.

“He’s been a great player for Queensland, but we just felt that... Darius was Queensland’s best player in last year’s series and again this year on the Four Nations at the end of last year he was in the top two or three players for Australia and again this year in the Test he was outstanding.

“The second part of that is, I think it might have been just a little bit unfair on Billy to put him under so much pressure in Game 1 of the series.”

Kevin walters breaks down as he discusses overlooking billy slater for origin I pic.twitter.com/eOq7XWqJoJ — pete badel (@badel_cmail) May 22, 2017

.@QLDmaroons coach Kevin Walters has broken down while naming his team for Game 1 of the 2017 State of Origin series https://t.co/CLGnsWPwo6 pic.twitter.com/4pgZhQBGD9 — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 22, 2017

Triple M Brisbane earlier reported Slater did not fly to Brisbane with Storm teammates Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Will Chambers for today’s Origin team announcement.

Walters on Monday admitted he was forced to make a “nightmare” decision surrounding the contest between Boyd and Slater.

“That’s been the dilemma for us to try and get the balance right,” Walters told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“At the end of the day what’s best for this team — that’s the dilemma. I can tell you it’s been nothing but nightmares for myself and the selectors about what we do there.

“It’s been a tough decision that we’ve had to come down to. I can’t tell you on the show who our fullback will be, but it was just so tough deciding who to put where and Billy — and again his form last night was good and he’s a very proud and passionate Queenslander — so no doubt it’s a tough one for us.

“And then Darius, his form at the Broncos and then last year for the Australian team. That’s what’s made it so difficult. Both of them are in such good touch.”

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD REACTS TO QUEENSLAND TOUGH CALLS

NSW NRL commentators have celebrated Queensland’s mistake of snubbing Storm star Billy Slater.

Queensland have done a NSW and NOT picked Billy Slater for Game One on Wednesday week. Onya Maroons #Origin — Adam Mobbs (@AdamMobbs) May 22, 2017

Well done to the boys on selection for Qld origin 1 - stoked for young guns Napa/Milford - https://t.co/dMTd4RaHiY — Wendell Sailor (@RealBigDell) May 22, 2017

Maroons picked Milf at 6 to avoid Bennett's possible no release a clever move. Excited to see Napa on the Origin stage as well. #origin — Ed Jackson (@edjacko) May 22, 2017

I love this time of year !! How good is it to see the head coach showing such raw emotions in the press conference#respect #qld @QLDmaroons — Corey Parker (@Coreyjparker13) May 22, 2017

Kevin Walters trumps Wayne Bennett. Picks Anthony Milford at No.6 & Johnathan Thurston 18th man to defuse Bennett threat not to release Milf — Adam Mobbs (@AdamMobbs) May 22, 2017

No Slater, no Holmes, no Hess - Thurston 18th man ... picked Myles - NSW can't believe their luck #Origin — Nathan Ryan (@Nath_Ryan) May 22, 2017