He's the only new face in a Queensland squad that continues to set records whenever it takes the field but both the captain and coach have endorsed Aidan Guerra's selection for the Maroons as one of just reward.
Guerra was the only player without previous Origin experience named in Queensland's team for Game One of the 2014 State of Origin Series on Monday night, with Will Chambers and Jake Friend named as 18th and 19th man respectively.
Although he has come off the bench in five of his past six games for the Rabbitohs, Chris McQueen retains his place in the second row alongside Matt Gillett, who gets his first opportunity in the run-on team with the absence through injury of Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday.
But with a stock of forward options at his disposal, it was the performance of Guerra in the Roosters' charge to the 2013 Telstra Premiership that convinced Maroons coach Mal Meninga that he had the characteristics to join Queensland's elite.
"He deserves to be here and I know he's excited about being here and he'll take advantage of his opportunity.
"Aidan's been part of our development program for a number of years, part of our emerging squad, been playing terrific rugby league the last couple of years, and deserves his opportunity.
"We're very confident about his ability and his ability to handle the week and make a really good contribution next Wednesday night."
While much noise in the first 10 weeks of the season has centred around the form of Titans second-rower Dave Taylor, Guerra's selection was the only minor shock in a Queensland team that has an all-too familiar look.
His only representative footy to date was three Tests for Italy at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the 26-year-old is determined to uphold the standard set over the past eight Series.
"Everyone that plays the game wants to be on this stage," Guerra said as he sat alongside Meninga and captain Cameron Smith.
"I'm glad I've got the chance to do it and I've got a team there of some pretty capable players that have done it in the years before and I'm going to do my best to step up to their level."
Although 19th man Jake Friend is the only Roosters teammate in the Maroons squad, Guerra has some familiar faces in camp in the form of Smith, fullback Billy Slater and halfback Cooper Cronk.
The Townsville Brothers junior spent four years in the Storm system training alongside the 'Big Three' between 2005 and 2009 and although he was unable to crack the NRL squad, left a lasting impression on Smith.
"He was in Melbourne when he was just a kid and had plenty of talent then but since moving on to the Roosters he's become a more mature player now," Smith said.
"Playing in a grand final has certainly given him plenty of experience of those big-game situations. I think just his form over the past couple of seasons is the big reason he's in our team now. He's been fairly consistent and plays a tough, uncompromising brand of footy and that's what it takes to play State of Origin and that's what it takes to play for the Queensland team."
With the New South Wales team due to be named on Tuesday and beset by injury and disciplinary concerns, Meninga took a not-too thinly veiled swipe at the Blues players who have caused coach Laurie Daley such headaches.
"I'm very thankful that the quality of player in the Queensland side puts the game first," said Meninga.
"They understand their responsibilities and they don't jeopardise their positions or their opportunity to be selected in the Queensland side.
"That's what makes me extremely happy, that this group of young men want to play for Queensland and part of that responsibility is setting the right examples. I'm extremely proud of who we've got in our team and because of that, that's why they get selected all the time."
Queensland: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Darius Boyd, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin Hodges, 5. Brent Tate, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Nate Myles, 18. Chris McQueen, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker. Interchange: 14. Daly Cherry-Evans, 15. Ben Te'o, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Josh Papalii, 19. Will Chambers, 20. Jake Friend. Coach: Mal Meninga.
Guerra was the only player without previous Origin experience named in Queensland's team for Game One of the 2014 State of Origin Series on Monday night, with Will Chambers and Jake Friend named as 18th and 19th man respectively.
Although he has come off the bench in five of his past six games for the Rabbitohs, Chris McQueen retains his place in the second row alongside Matt Gillett, who gets his first opportunity in the run-on team with the absence through injury of Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday.
But with a stock of forward options at his disposal, it was the performance of Guerra in the Roosters' charge to the 2013 Telstra Premiership that convinced Maroons coach Mal Meninga that he had the characteristics to join Queensland's elite.
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"He deserves to be here and I know he's excited about being here and he'll take advantage of his opportunity.
"Aidan's been part of our development program for a number of years, part of our emerging squad, been playing terrific rugby league the last couple of years, and deserves his opportunity.
"We're very confident about his ability and his ability to handle the week and make a really good contribution next Wednesday night."
While much noise in the first 10 weeks of the season has centred around the form of Titans second-rower Dave Taylor, Guerra's selection was the only minor shock in a Queensland team that has an all-too familiar look.
His only representative footy to date was three Tests for Italy at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the 26-year-old is determined to uphold the standard set over the past eight Series.
"Everyone that plays the game wants to be on this stage," Guerra said as he sat alongside Meninga and captain Cameron Smith.
"I'm glad I've got the chance to do it and I've got a team there of some pretty capable players that have done it in the years before and I'm going to do my best to step up to their level."
Although 19th man Jake Friend is the only Roosters teammate in the Maroons squad, Guerra has some familiar faces in camp in the form of Smith, fullback Billy Slater and halfback Cooper Cronk.
The Townsville Brothers junior spent four years in the Storm system training alongside the 'Big Three' between 2005 and 2009 and although he was unable to crack the NRL squad, left a lasting impression on Smith.
"He was in Melbourne when he was just a kid and had plenty of talent then but since moving on to the Roosters he's become a more mature player now," Smith said.
"Playing in a grand final has certainly given him plenty of experience of those big-game situations. I think just his form over the past couple of seasons is the big reason he's in our team now. He's been fairly consistent and plays a tough, uncompromising brand of footy and that's what it takes to play State of Origin and that's what it takes to play for the Queensland team."
With the New South Wales team due to be named on Tuesday and beset by injury and disciplinary concerns, Meninga took a not-too thinly veiled swipe at the Blues players who have caused coach Laurie Daley such headaches.
"I'm very thankful that the quality of player in the Queensland side puts the game first," said Meninga.
"They understand their responsibilities and they don't jeopardise their positions or their opportunity to be selected in the Queensland side.
"That's what makes me extremely happy, that this group of young men want to play for Queensland and part of that responsibility is setting the right examples. I'm extremely proud of who we've got in our team and because of that, that's why they get selected all the time."
Queensland: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Darius Boyd, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin Hodges, 5. Brent Tate, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Nate Myles, 18. Chris McQueen, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker. Interchange: 14. Daly Cherry-Evans, 15. Ben Te'o, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Josh Papalii, 19. Will Chambers, 20. Jake Friend. Coach: Mal Meninga.
