Stat of Origin: Maroons to take experience edge into opener

NSW may be the defending champions and chasing back-to-back series for the first time since 2005 but Queensland will go into the Origin series boasting more experience in the interstate arena.

The Maroons have lost a combined 253 games of Origin experience over the previous two years yet coach Kevin Walters still had the luxury of picking a starting side that includes every player having experienced at least one Holden State of Origin game.

All bar two of the Maroons squad have made at least 100 NRL appearances.

Brad Fittler will again rely on youth with another five debutants named and an average of just 4.5 games per player at Origin level.

The Maroons (six games per player) are just ahead, while both states have gone for three debutants apiece coming off the bench including Maroons rookie David Fifita, the youngest player to take the field at 19 and 100 days, along with NSW behemoth Payne Haas, also 19 and with just 10 NRL games to his name.

Queensland's average age for the opening game of the series will sit at 26.1 ahead of the Blues' 24.6. The Blues figure was inflated by the pending representative debut of Cody Walker at 29 and Josh Morris' recall at the age of 32.

Morris will not only be the oldest player to run out onto Suncorp Stadium but the most experienced with 274 NRL games under his belt as well as 14 Origin appearances and six games for Australia.

Maroons back-rower Matt Gillett will be the most capped Origin player on the field with 18 matches with teammate Josh Papalii next best with 12.

It's the first time the Maroons won't have a single player with over 20 games of experience for the first time since 2004.

The starting forward packs loom as both states' most experienced in all areas.

The selection of Ben Hunt (223 NRL matches) at hooker boosts the Maroons, who also have Gillett, Papalii and Josh McGuire either close to or over a double century of NRL games. 

Blues back-rowers Tyson Frizell and Boyd Cordner have 20 Origin appearances between them. 

The same can't be said for the Blues' spine of Walker, James Tedesco, Nathan Cleary and Damien Cook with just 13 games of experience between them.

The Queensland spine's figure of 16 doesn't shape much better when you consider the likes of Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater averaged 33 games each.

The Maroons look well-placed to overcome their once seasoned campaigners for at least another season while the Blues continue to make raft changes under Fittler's regime.