Anthony Milford on standby as Johnathan Thurston needs miracle to play State of Origin I

ANTHONY Milford could answer a Maroons SOS with Johnathan Thurston in serious doubt for Origin I. And that’s just the start of the selection shocks.

Johnathan Thurston is racing the clock to be ready for the State of Origin series opener. Picture: Adam Head

QUEENSLAND have appealed for Wayne Bennett to release Anthony Milford for his Maroons debut amid fears Johnathan Thurston needs a miracle recovery to play in Origin I.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters spoke with Bennett on Sunday to discuss the prospect of Milford answering an SOS if Thurston is ruled out with a shoulder injury.

The Queensland team for Origin I on Wednesday week is named on Monday. Maroons ­powerbrokers thrashed out several selection permutations on Sunday night and it is believed:

● The uncertainty is set to see Queensland name a squad in alphabetical order for the first time in Origin’s 37-year history;

● Thurston will be given until Sunday to prove his fitness, but is an unlikely starter;

● Darius Boyd has edged ahead of Billy Slater in the battle for the No. 1 jumper;

● Selectors have discussed omitting Slater completely; and

● Jarrod Wallace is tantalisingly close to an Origin debut, with the Titans forward on standby for Nate Myles.

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Johnathan Thurston is racing the clock to be ready for the State of Origin series opener. Picture: Adam Head

Injured veterans Thurston and Myles will be chosen on Monday before undergoing medical checks.

Walters said given the experience the team had lost in Matt Scott, Corey Parker and Greg Inglis, he wanted to give the duo every chance to play.

“We’ve lost so much experience,” Walters said.

“Everyone is saying we need to blood new players but experience counts for a lot in Origin. With Johnathan and now Nate, it puts us under a bit of pressure.

“(Myles) is obviously going to be playing for us if he is fit. It’s just not ideal for him to get the knock on the knee. We’ll wait and see around the scans.

“With John, we’ll name him in the team and get him down and have a look at him.”

Thurston said last week he expected to suit up for his 37th consecutive Origin game, but Maroons and Cowboys medicos do not share the champion pivot’s confidence.

Nate Myles is battling a knee injury. Picture: Peter Wallis

Such is Walters’ concern, the Queensland coach wants Milford as his contingency plan and has sounded out Bennett on the possibility of the Broncos sensation joining Camp Maroon.

Bennett last week made it clear he would not release Milford immediately unless he was guaranteed a place in Queensland’s starting 17.

However, the Broncos coach is open to the idea of Milford being a late arrival into Camp Maroon after he plays for Brisbane against the Warriors in New Zealand this Saturday night.

Milford would be available to fly into camp on Sunday — the very day the Maroons will make a final call on Thurston’s fitness.

Anthony Milford could make his State of Origin debut. Picture: Jono Searle

If Thurston is ruled out, Michael Morgan will be elevated into the starting side at five-eighth, with Milford to make his Origin debut as Queensland’s No. 14 utility.

Walters could name Milford in an extended squad on Monday, with a view to drafting him into camp should Thurston be ruled out.

Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and Melbourne’s Cameron Munster have been touted as utility candidates but Milford is ahead of both in the pecking order.

Selectors were on Sunday night torn over the fullback spot, but Boyd has the inside running after clinching the Ron McAuliffe Medal last year as the player of the series.

LIKELY QUEENSLAND TEAM

1 Darius Boyd

2 Corey Oates

3 Will Chambers

4 Justin O’Neill

5 Dane Gagai

6 Johnathan Thurston

7 Cooper Cronk

8 Nate Myles

9 Cameron Smith

10 Dylan Napa

11 Josh Papalii

12 Matt Gillett

13 Josh McGuire

14 Michael Morgan

15 Sam Thaiday

16 Aidan Guerra

17 Jacob Lillyman

18 Anthony Milford

19 Jarrod Wallace