Queensland will create history regardless of the result at Suncorp Stadium

The greenest side in Maroons’ history will chase a series win at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

Harry Grant is set to make an impact from the bench for Queensland in his Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium Picture: Scott Davis/QRL

History beckons for Queensland on Wednesday night. Regardless of the result at Suncorp Stadium, they will finish the State of Origin series having debuted 14 players – including four on in Game III – making the Maroons the greenest outfit in 40 years of interstate rivalry.

Their hopes of snatching the shield with an upset will rest to a large extent on two of those new faces. Coach Wayne Bennett on Tuesday confirmed that South Sydney’s Corey Allan would play fullback, a move that will result in Valentine Holmes returning to the wing – a position where he has previously flourished.

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In a further reshuffle, Kurt Capewell has shifted from the centres to the backrow for Jaydn Su’A who drops back to the bench to replace Moeaki Fotuaika. That opens the way for Storm centre Brenko Lee to come into the side while fellow debutant Edrick Lee moves onto the wing to replace the injured Xavier Coates.

Harry Grant will make his first appearance off the interchange bench and his debut shapes as the most exciting for Queensland since Kalyn Ponga was handed a maiden jersey more than two years ago.

Grant is the future, although for the moment he will need to bide his time on the interchange bench as he waits for Jake Friend to be given a rest. Bennett made it clear on Tuesday that Grant would have to be patient as he lauded Friend’s performance in the opening two games.

Having lashed suggestions emanating from the NSW camp that Friend had suffered a head knock in Origin II, Bennett acknowledged that the Sydney Roosters captain had worked himself to a standstill in Origins I and II.

At the same time, he has offered little in the way of attacking threat. That is where Grant enters the equation.

“I plan to use him in a strategic way if I can,” Bennett said.

“That depends on where the game is going and how the game is going. That will all unfold in front of us.

“He will come on after Jake has done a lot of work. There are opportunities for him. I am sure he will match it out there tomorrow night.

“He has that type of breeding in him that he is a bit of a tearaway guy. He keeps trying hard and I like the qualities I see in him.”

Bennett talked about Grant’s breeding and his father Paul will be among the crowd of nearly 50,000 at Suncorp Stadium, wearing a Queensland jersey for one of the few times in his life.

Paul was born in NSW. Harry was born in Queensland after the family moved in 1998. Paul tried to convince his sons – Harry included – to support the Blues.

He had no luck. Instead, he has switched camps for his son’s debut. He was presented with a Maroons jersey by the kids at the school where he works in north Queensland on Monday morning. Then another Queensland jersey arrived in the post thanks to former Brisbane Broncos winger Denan Kemp.

“He (Harry) used to have a bet with my old man for $5 back when he was a five-year-old,” Paul said.

“They would pay up at Christmas. When Queensland won, they would get on the phone to him and shout Queenslander.

“Their mother is a Queenslander. Everyone around them is a Queenslander. They were born in Queensland.”

Asked how he expected his son to be used, Paul said: “Wayne Bennett has been around long enough. Harry will handle it.”

Bennett is convinced Allan will as well, having seen him at close quarters with South Sydney this season.

He had to wait until round 10 to get a crack with the Rabbitohs and started on the wing. When Latrell Mitchell went down, Allan slotted in at fullback and handled it with little trouble.

On occasions, he produced an error under the high ball and NSW will no doubt take to their air to expose any weaknesses. In Nathan Cleary, they have one of the most astute tactical kickers in the game. If there is a chink, Cleary will seek it out.

The Maroons are coming off hefty defeat at ANZ Stadium and will start Origin III at long odds, as they have for the opening two games of the series.

Few gave them a chance in Origin I yet they emerged victorious in Adelaide. They came back to earth in Sydney but they boast a remarkable record at Suncorp Stadium, having won 11 of their past 13 games at the ground and dominated in deciders at the venue.

They are not without hope and regardless of the result, they will emerge from this year’s series having unearthed some stars for the future, chief among them forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, whose Origin II blue with Payne Haas has been a talking point in the lead-up to Wednesday night.

Bennett was asked whether he had spoken to Fa’asuamaleaui.

“I haven’t said much to him actually,” he said.

“He is pretty well motivated, he is an easy to coach guy, he wants to do his best for you. He is 20 years of age – we have a decade of him.

“I am looking forward to that. He is only going to get better. He is not going to be intimidated by anybody. Let’s get out there and see what happens tomorrow night.”

Can’t wait.