Like the saying goes: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Despite winning 11 of the last 12 interstate series — including a record eight in a row (2006-2013) Queensland will have to make a few changes in 2018.

Johnathan Thurston has played his last Origin and champions Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater may yet follow JT out the Origin door.

But even if a trio of champions bow out, two more are expected back in Greg Inglis and Matt Scott, with Darius Boyd hot on their heels.

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Here’s how foxsports.com.au’s Wayne Heming — who has covered more of the Maroons Origin history than any other journalist in the game — sees them fitting into Queensland’s line up for next year’s series opener.

1 — Darius Boyd

2 — Valentine Holmes

3 — Will Chambers

4 — Greg Inglis

5 — Dane Gagai

6 — Cameron Munster

7 — Ash Taylor

8 — Matt Scott

9 — Cameron Smith ©

10 — Dylan Napa

11 — Gavin Cooper

12 — Matt Gillett

13 — Josh McGuire

Interchange

14 — Michael Morgan

15 — Josh Papalii

16 — Cohen Hess

17 — Tim Glasby

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INS

DARIUS BOYD: With mounting speculation Billy Slater may step down from representative football next season, Boyd is the obvious choice to slot into the number one jumper.

Slater was a shock omission from game one but played like a 20-year-old in the last two games.

He wants to see how he feels at the end of the season and more importantly how his body is holding up following shoulder surgery and the word is he may just play for Melbourne if he goes around for another season. Regardless, Boyd will be back somewhere in the 17.

GREG INGLIS: He walks back into left centre next season after missing most of 2017 through injury.

Greg Inglis: Not a bad bloke to have waiting in the wings. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Inglis will be 31 next year, but after such a long spell on the sidelines the fire will be burning to get back to playing for both Queensland and Australia.

He has played 30 Origins but is by no means finished yet according to those closest to him.

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ASH TAYLOR: Don’t leave this kid out of your calculations despite all the talk of Daly Cherry-Evans being a walk up next year when Cooper Cronk hands over his No. 7 jumper.

Taylor is a player going places and good judges believe, just like Cameron Munster, he has Origin written all over him.

Tough, competitive, clever, a good defender with a great kicking game to boot — his progress could well take all the way to a scrumbase partnership beside Munster as early as next season.

Ash Taylor is headed for big things. Picture: Jerad Williams Source: News Corp Australia

MATT SCOTT: Like Inglis, Scott walks back into the front-row, provided he’s back up and running.

Scott has been the cornerstone of Queensland’s pack for a decade and one more series for young guns Dylan Napa and Jarrod Wallace to learn from would be huge for their development.

Queensland need front-row depth, and having learned his craft from the great Petero Civoniceva, the Cowboys skipper has it in him to crack the elite level once more despite his advancing years.

OUTS

COOPER CRONK: Has not made it official but the mail is Cronk has probably played his last Origin and may even retire from rugby league. Stand by on that one.

If this latest Suncorp showpiece was indeed his last Origin, what a game it was! Part of a Queensland spine which is slowly but surely being dismantled.

JOHNATHAN THURSTON: Last month the thought of playing an Origin series without Johnathan Thurston scared the pants off Maroons fans. But after Munster’s debut those fears have eased considerably.

Munster looked awesome with his strong running game and his long, quick passes to his money men out wide were excellent. Here to stay.

BILLY SLATER: The way Slater played in games two and three after being brushed for the opener suggest he could very well play in 2018.

But he is also very much aware his body can only take so much and as a young father he wants to be certain he is not putting himself at risk. The decision this time will be his to make because if he is available, Kevin Walters won’t be making the same mistake twice.

BEN HUNT: Barring calamity, Munster keeps his position and GI reclaims his.

If Taylor plays his way into the No. 7, then utility Michael Morgan is still a must-have in this side and the best option for the bench utility role he has filled so well in the past.

That simply doesn’t leave any room for Hunt in the 17-man squad, or Cherry-Evans for that matter.