It looks like the future is upon Queensland, sooner than they’d hoped.
After losing hooker Cameron Smith just prior to the series due to his representative retirement, the Maroons have now lost fullback Billy Slater as well, after the custodian was ruled out of Origin 1 with a hamstring injury, according to 7Sport.
Slater’s injury will mean Queensland will go into Origin 1 without any of Smith, Slater, Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk for the first time since 2003.
It remains to be seen who’ll be called into the squad to replace him, though it’s expected Michael Morgan will take his place is the starting side, either at fullback or centre, with Greg Inglis going to the back.