Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay has addressed plans around the Maroons’ 105kg super sub Selwyn Cobbo ahead of Game I.
In an interesting reveal ahead of the State of Origin opener at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, Hannay was asked about the make-up of the Maroons’ bench and where the dangerous Cobbo fitted in.
The 21-year-old Brisbane powerhouse can play wing, fullback and centre, and coach Billy Slater was cagey about how he would use his big weapon on Tuesday.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
But Hannay shed some light on the matter before the game on Wednesday.
“We’re still not sure whether to start him in the front row or not,” Hannay joked.
“We’ve got a lot of contingencies in place around how to best inject Selwyn.
“There’s a lot of flexibility within our team so when and where he comes into the game, I think the state of play will dictate that to a degree, but we’ve certainly got some ideas around that.”
Hannay said he understood the intrigue around the bench and called it “non-traditional”.
“One thing Bill’s (Billy Slater) shown in his time in charge is he’s prepared to take a risk if he thinks it’s in the best interest of the team,” Hannay said.
“We feel like Selwyn on the bench is best-suited for our team.
“It may look like a risk externally but internally we certainly feel good about our bench.
“Time will tell, honestly … Ultimately, whoever wins gets to laugh loudest, laugh last. If we come away with the result everyone will laud our bench. If we don’t, everyone will laud their bench.”
Hannay also mentioned the Maroons’ willingness to “die for the jersey”.
But when he was asked about his coaching link to Parramatta, he was quick to shut it down.
“Hey listen, I appreciate the question and I understand the interest, but I just don’t feel like today’s the time and place to be talking about that,” he said.
However, he did say he had previously made it “clear” that he was keen to be a senior coach.
“(But) I knew someone would (ask the question).”
Hannay also said he felt privileged to work with Slater and the Maroons.
“I don’t take it for granted, every time I get into this camp I feel like it could be my last,” he said.
NSW Blues line-up
1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Joseph Suaali’I 5. Zac Lomax 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Jake Trbojevic (c) 9. Reece Robson 10. Payne Haas 11. Liam Martin 12. Angus Crichton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Isaah Yeo 15. Haumole Olaukau’atu 16. Spencer Leniu 17 Hudson Young 18. Matt Burton 19. Luke Keary 20. Mitch Barnett
Coach: Michael Maguire
QLD Maroons line-up
1. Reece Walsh 2. Xavier Coates 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Ben Hunt 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Jaydn Su’a 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Harry Grant 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. J’Maine Hopgood 17. Selwyn Cobbo 18. Felise Kaufusi 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Ezra Mam
Coach: Billy Slater
