Tom Gilbert's favourite five Maroons

Running around emulating Queensland rugby league stars is how Tom Gilbert grew up. In the backyard, on the field, off the field even. 

Fast forward to now, he is one of the people young Queenslanders are emulating and this fact is not lost on the Queensland Maroons prop.

"You play rugby league growing up and all you know is rugby league and those people that do it before us... they're the people you walk around home trying to be like, trying to imitate, they're the ones you're playing against, your brothers, your friends," Gilbert said.

"So you grow up in a childhood where you dream about playing for Queensland, you fantasise about it, you even act it out at the playground.

"For me, growing up, a lot of it was about playing for Queensland and playing NRL and playing Origin.

"So to actually have those things come to fruition, and have kids in playgrounds trying to be like Tom Gilbert... that's truly special and it's truly remarkable."

Gilbert said the biggest thing playing for Queensland was "the community, the people we are, we're tough... it's a battler state and that's something to be proud of".

"We do things tough up here, you know, weather's tougher up here, not the same environment down south, I think there might be a less pool of players, but we don't look for excuses not to perform," he said.

"We always look for reasons to perform and that's not just at Origin, that's just at every, every walk of Queensland... you've got the people in the mines, you've got a strong Indigenous community, you've got the Torres Strait Islands, you got all these things around us.

"And that's what makes this place remarkable, is that we don't look for excuses on why we shouldn't be a great state... we find every reason to be.

"I know we're 17 players that go out there and do that, but we represent millions of people that are just like us.

"We're just the fortunate ones to wear the jersey."

Gilbert, who was injured during State of Origin Game I this year, said everything was on track to return. 

"It's on track and everything's been really good... I'm pretty fortunate with the staff at the Dolphins... I know I'm on the right track and just got to trust the process," Gilbert said.

"Of course the fire is there (to return to the Origin arena)... I always said when I made my debut that the next jersey was going to be even more special and that's the same now...  probably even more so now because I didn't get the opportunity to play the 80 minutes.

"My time on the field was cut short and I want to be in that team where I can contribute to those three million Queenslanders and be the bloke who wears the jersey.

"I want to do that for my whole career, but I know what that entails.... it's not easy, it takes a lot of sacrifice and a lot of hard work and then a little bit of luck too.

"I want to be in that position where I'm trying to be the best athlete I can be. Queenslanders, and the Queensland team, is picked on blokes that earn it, so I want to earn my spot back in this team... I know it's not a given.

"I know it can be taken away from you in an instant with injury, but I really want to be in a position where I can re-earn my Queensland jersey and contribute to the team.  

"It's a pretty special team... the core blokes they've got now are some great players and some great people and I'd really like to be a part of that for the whole of my career and I know that's going take a lot of hard work, but that fire is there to get there and play a whole series. That would be pretty special.

"Getting back on that team after an injury will be a highlight of my career."

For Gilbert, there are five Maroons who inspired him as a child, inspire him now  and into the future.

Tom Gilbert's favourite five Maroons

1.       Johnathan Thurston

"My all-time favourite Maroon would have to be Johnathan Thurston. He stands out for me because, obviously he played a consistent amount of Origin with 37 games over 13 years. He played through injury, he played through adversity, he played through where his club team wasn’t going too well. He put that all aside to play for Queensland and I think you can look back at his career and he was 37 games. He gave everything, he left it all out there, he tried his absolute best and he did it for so many years. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more passionate Queenslander than him.  And I think what he embodied and what he went to on that stage is something that all Queensland players should aspire to be and look up to and for me for my whole career, whether him playing at the Cowboys or him, especially playing for Queensland, is someone I've always admired and looked up to."

2.     Billy Slater

"What Billy Slater has done as a player, obviously he was part of the dynasty with Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith. That's pretty special in itself and then he's come back as coach and given back to us younger blokes coming through and given so much as a coach to us, to learn how to be a Queensland player. He had things set up post footy, but for him to contribute that way, after what he's achieved - and then to achieve as well as a coach - is truly remarkable and something that has made us Queenslanders better people for it because he chose to give up his time to be our coach and he's a great person as well. He's from Innisfail in Far North Queensland, so he's definitely got that true Queenslander about him. That was represented through his playing career and now it's represented as a coach."

3.     Arthur Beetson

"I can't go without saying Artie Beetson. He started Origin for us. He created the rivalry, but not just created the rivalry… he went out there, put the team on his back and went after New South Wales, and that’s created the history that is State of Origin. And it's one of the main reasons why we love being a Queenslander so much, because our captain, our first ever captain of State of Origin went out there and stood up against the Blues. He set the DNA about what Queensland's about… our backs are always against the wall, but we'll stand up and fight and he was the first ever captain and leader and person to do that for Queensland. So he's definitely very special."

4.     Cameron Smith

"Cameron Smith, the most capped Queenslander of all time. I used to love watching him, Billy and Jono run around and dominate the Blues… it was pretty special as a kid. That was my generation of Queensland stars we looked up to and he caps it off with the other two I’ve already mentioned in terms of what they’ve been able to contribute to rugby league. But at Queensland Rugby League, but also he's come back as a coach as well, and he's helping us too and they're just selfless contributions and I'm sure if you ask them, they would do it over and over again. And that's going to have a lasting effect for future Queensland generations with us younger blokes coming through and that'll be a really great measure of his influence and impact over what was a great NRL career, but even a greater Origin career."

5.     Reuben Cotter

"Our Wally Lewis Medallist this year, Reuben Cotter. It's not every day you get to go play with your best mate in the Queensland jersey. It's something that we both haven't taken for granted. When we talk about what Queenslanders are… backs against the wall… that's Reuben's career to date. You know, he missed three years of footy out because of injury and stuff; even last year, he got his debut and was injured as well, but, it didn't stop him from aspiring to be the footy player we know him to be and he did it for us this year. He was our best player and, you know, that got us a series win and I've just enjoyed watching it from afar and it's a Queensland player I've had probably, the closest relationship with, so I've seen what it's taken to get there and that's why he's one of my favourites, to play with, but also to watch play and, I know he's going to have a long Origin career because he is what Queenslanders want be about and Queensland is about. Regardless if I'm in a team or not, I'll always be supporting him and, I know he's going to be doing Queensland proud."