Queensland great Justin Hodges has urged selectors not to consider Corey Oates as a bench forward if he misses out in a looming three-way battle for the Maroons' right wing.
Hodges said his money was on Cronulla flyer Valentine Holmes pipping Brisbane duo Oates and Darius Boyd for the wing spot for June 6's Origin I in Melbourne.
Oates is aiming to nail down a Broncos bench forward role this year and had been considered a Maroons interchange option for game one if he missed a starting spot in the back line.
But Hodges said Oates would find the step up to Origin too great as a bench forward.
"It's the wing or nothing for him at the moment," Hodges told Fox Sports' Queenslanders Only.
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"I know he wants to play back-row but you can't put someone who hasn't played back-row for a club side straight into Origin.
"Origin football is one of the hardest arenas you'll ever play in. It tests you mentally and physically and you don't have a second to scratch your head.
"His best position would be on the wing, but you've got Holmes, Darius."
Hodges opted for Holmes after the Cronulla winger crossed in their 10-9 last round NRL win over Gold Coast - his fifth try in four games.
"If I was picking a side I'd go with Val Holmes now. I just think he's playing some good football," Hodges said.
"But you can put anyone outside (centre) GI (Greg Inglis) and they're going to look good.
"If you get Greg firing, it doesn't matter who you put outside him."
Former Maroons lock Corey Parker said injuries may be the only way Oates earns a bench forward nod for Queensland.
Backrower Matt Gillett (neck) is expected to miss the Origin series, lock Josh McGuire (ankle) is set to be sidelined for game one while Queensland are also sweating on incumbent bench forward Tim Glasby (broken thumb).
"For mine he should be on the wing and the wing only but there is a possibility he could find himself on the bench," Parker said.
"I guess it depends on the forward pack they pick. A lot of guys are injured at the moment so some lighter guys might find themselves in there.
"And Origin is about getting your team on the front foot and that is Oates' forte - at 104kg and nearly two metres tall he does it so well."
