Wield the axe, Kevvie.
That's the message from Queensland great Justin Hodges who has called for the heads of four high profile former Maroons teammates ahead of this month's must win State of Origin game two.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters is facing the biggest call in his two-year Maroons tenure as he mulls over changes after a record 28-4 game one loss to NSW in Brisbane.
Hodges said Walters could no longer rely on loyalty and believed it was time to retire veteran forwards Nate Myles and Jacob Lillyman from Origin duty.
The former 24 Origin Maroons centre also wanted centre Justin O'Neill and backrower Aidan Guerra cut with in-form veteran Billy Slater replacing Darius Boyd at fullback for June 21's game two in Sydney.
But Hodges has asked for a stay of execution for veteran backrower Sam Thaiday.
"The nature of the win by New South Wales in the Origin opener last Wednesday showed to me that after serving their state so well for so long there are a number of players who must now make way for the next generation of the Maroons," Hodges said in his NRL.com column.
Hodges said it was time for 32 Origin prop Myles and 33-year-old Lillyman to go.
"It's hard for me to talk about leaving Nate out of the side because he's been so good for us for so long but unfortunately I think his time might be up," he said.
"I think his body is holding him back now.
"He's going to be a hard man to replace but it's time to look at some new blood and start getting them ready for the future."
Hodges said 14 Origin bench forward Lillyman's time was up with the likes of Gavin Cooper, Jarrod Wallace, Coen Hess and Korbin Sims waiting in the wings.
"He (Lillyman) has been an outstanding player for Queensland but I think Jakey has run his course," he said.
"NSW have got players who can offload the ball and pass before the line so it's time that we counter that and produce a bit of that second-phase play ourselves."
Hodges backed Slater returning at fullback, pushing Boyd to the wing and Dane Gagai into the centres for O'Neill.
"Darbs (Boyd) is one of Queensland's greatest ever players and there's no way he will be dropped for game two but I do think he needs to relinquish his position at fullback so that Billy Slater can come back into the team," he said.
"He brings what James Tedesco brought for the Blues last week."
Hodges wanted veteran Thaiday to be given another chance but believed the fun loving Brisbane forward must get serious about Origin.
"If I was Kevvie Walters I'd sit him down and tell him what he expects of him and what he needs from him when he comes off the bench," Hodges said.
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