Kevin Walters has finally injected new blood into Queensland's ageing forward pack and says he would have done it sooner had Dylan Napa not been banned from selection last year.
Sydney Roosters firebrand Napa has been picked for his State of Origin debut, replacing the injured Matt Scott in the Maroons front row for next Wednesday night's series opener.
It is just reward for the 24-year-old, whose relentless, emotion-charged aggression seems to be perfectly suited for the Origin arena.
But Walters revealed he would have handed Napa an opportunity last year had he not been left out of Queensland calculations as punishment for breaking curfew during an Emerging Origin camp.
"Unfortunately he wasn't available for selection last year - no doubt he would have played Origin," Walters said.
"But we're looking forward to getting him in there, particularly with no Matt Scott.
"He's been the dominant forward for Queensland for the last seven or eight years and now it's time for a new young blood to come in and give him his opportunity.
"We just want him to play well for Queensland, nothing more - not above and beyond what he's doing for the Roosters. If he can do that it's going to help everyone."
Nate Myles has been named as the other starting front-rower and Walters expects he will play despite suffering bone bruising to his knee during Manly's win over the Gold Coast.
Napa was one of eight players slapped with an Origin ban last year for sneaking out of camp for a night out in Brisbane, along with Anthony Milford, who will make his debut at five-eighth if Johnathan Thurston is unable to play as anticipated.
Another, Jarrod Wallace, was achingly close to a Queensland call-up as well.
But Walters erred on the side of caution given the absences of Scott, Thurston, Corey Parker (retired) and Greg Inglis (injured), although Wallace will be invited to join the rest of the squad late this week.
"We just think we needed as much experience as we can," Walters said.
"Jarrod will play Origin at some stage, he can't do any more form-wise than what he's been playing for the Titans and we're aware of that."
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