Josh Papalii has gone from reserve grade to the most experienced member of a revamped Queensland Maroons pack inside two months.
The Canberra Raiders back-rower has been named in Kevin Walter's Queensland squad to face the NSW Blues in the State of Origin series opener at the MCG on June 6.
Josh Papalii is leading Queensland's pack into a new era.
Photo: AAP
The 26-year-old is set to rack up his 10th Queensland cap from the bench, allaying fears the Green Machine's indifferent start to the season would put a line through his name.
With nine appearances already to his name Papalii will become the most experienced member of a Queensland pack missing Cameron Smith and Matt Scott.
Only lock forward Josh McGuire's eight caps come close, with starting props Jarrod Wallace (two caps) and Dylan Napa (three), back-rower Gavin Cooper (three), bench forward Coen Hess (two) the only others to have played for the Maroons.
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Hooker Andrew McCullough, second-rower Felise Kaufusi and bench forward Jai Arrow are all in line to make their State of Origin debuts.
The Queensland backline boasts more experience and is headlined by new captain Greg Inglis (30 caps), Billy Slater (29), bench utility Michael Morgan (eight), Will Chambers (seven) and Dane Gagai (seven).
They are joined by Valentine Holmes (two), halfback Ben Hunt (one) and five-eighth Cameron Munster (one).
The NSW Blues are set to field a new-look team for the series opener with Papalii's Canberra teammate Nick Cotric expected to be announced on an extended bench as cover.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart took a hardline stance when he axed Papalii to reserve grade earlier this season as the Samoan international paid the price for a poor start to the year.
Papalii admits it was the right call and he has since rediscovered the spark in his career as he edges towards a contract extension with the Raiders.
Papalii returned from his World Cup commitments with Samoa overweight last year but his teammates have noticed a seismic shift in Papalii's attitude in recent weeks.
The Raiders forward worked so hard to exit Canberra's "fat club" during the pre-season he almost lost sight of the finish line, and he has been one of the team's standout players since returning from a one-week stint in NSW Cup.
Queensland squad: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Greg Inglis (c), 4. Will Chambers, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Dylan Napa, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Jarrod Wallace, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Coen Hess, 17. Jai Arrow.
Caden Helmers is a sports reporter for The Canberra Times
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