Conspiracy theories will no doubt abound after Queensland coach Kevin Walters named Anthony Milford at five-eighth for the State of Origin opener, avoiding a potential stoush with Wayne Bennett.
Former Maroons playmaker Ben Ikin said Johnathan Thurston was a "very good chance" of playing a 37th straight Origin on May 31 but claimed his father-in-law Bennett had forced Walters to name the recovering playmaker as 18th man on Monday.
Brisbane coach Bennett laid down the law before the Maroons team announcement, saying he would not release Milford if he was named as a reserve on standby for Thurston (shoulder).
Walters averted a tug of war over Milford by unveiling the Broncos pivot in the No.6 jersey at Monday's Origin I team announcement.
However, Walters raised eyebrows when he refused to give a deadline for Thurston to prove his fitness for game one.
Asked about Bennett's stance, Walters said: "The Broncos are a big part of what we do in the Queensland Rugby League.
"We've had some conversation, no doubt, but we feel it's in our best interest and from the Queensland Rugby League point of view to name Anthony for his own self to get his head right around the big task that lies in front of him."
But Ikin was not reading too much into Milford being named No.6, saying Bennett's stance put pressure on Walters to unveil Thurston as 18th man.
"Wayne backed him into a corner. By naming Thurston as 18th man they have been able to circumvent that issue," Ikin told Fox Sports.
"I heard him (Thurston) say that he was almost right to play for the Cowboys against the Sharks (last week).
"Origin is 10 days away.
"I don't want to turn this into a conspiracy theory ... but going off the back of what Kevvie said I still believe JT is a very good chance of playing the first game which means Milford misses out."
Thurston has played 36 successive Origin games since his 2005 debut, featuring in 10 series wins in 12 years.
Walters said Thurston was "unlikely" to play but would be given every chance to overcome a shoulder injury sustained in the trans-Tasman Test.
"Given his position in the game and the way he's served Queensland, we feel it's our right to provide an opportunity for him to maybe get himself fit and play," he said.
"It's unlikely but we felt the best way to handle the situation was to name a nominated 17 and give Johnathan every chance.
"We won't draw it out too long."
If Milford gets the nod he will complete one of the great Origin turnarounds.
He copped a 12 month Origin ban for breaking curfew at the 2016 Emerging Maroons camp.
Now he is being groomed as Thurston's heir apparent, leapfrogging Melbourne's Cameron Munster and North Queensland's Michael Morgan.
"We feel Anthony deserves an opportunity at the next level to show everyone that he's capable," Walters said.
"We had some good options there. We just felt that at the moment, Anthony's the right choice."
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