Origin jersey up for grabs as Queensland teammates face off

Roosters centre Rob Toia is determined to take another step towards a Queensland Origin jumper as he looks to upstage Maroons teammate Gehamat Shibasaki on Saturday night. 

The duo will go face to face at Allianz Stadium when the Roosters host the Broncos in an early-season blockbuster between two premiership contenders. 

More than two competition points will be on the line, with both Toia and Shibasaki desperate to return to the Origin arena after earning shock debuts last season.

"It's going to be a physical battle," Toia said. "He's a physical player, he's played in the Ashes so he's a world-class centre and I can't go easy on him. 

"The biggest thing I learnt from him last year was his confidence. He's a real confident player, he's really aggressive, he wants the ball and he wants to target his opposite centre.

"He loves the one-on-one battle so it will be a good battle against him this week."

Few could have predicted 12 months ago that both Shibasaki and Toia would line up together in the Queensland team. 

Shibasaki was not even expected to have a place in the Broncos backline, let alone play for his state.

After impressing for Brisbane, an injury to Kalyn Ponga before the third match triggered a backline reshuffle and opened the door for the journeyman to make his Maroons debut in the decider. 

Shibasaki thrived in Queensland's upset victory and used the experience as a launch pad for the second half of the year. The 28-year-old played a key role in the Broncos' drought-breaking premiership before making his Kangaroos debut in the Ashes series. 

Queensland coach Billy Slater's decision to select Rob Toia was even more unexpected, the centre earning a Maroons call-up just 10 games into his NRL career.

The youngster more than held his own in the Origin arena, containing Latrell Mitchell as the Maroons claimed an unexpected series victory. 

Fast forward 12 months and Penrith young gun Casey McLean has emerged as a potential NSW bolter after changes to the Origin eligibility rules cleared the way for the 20-year-old to represent his state. 

There are just three weeks left for Origin hopefuls to put their hand up for selection before teams are named at the conclusion of Magic Round. 

Determining when a player is ready for the interstate contest is often more art than science, with Toia revealing even he wasn't sure if he was capable of handling the intensity of the arena. 

"Even after playing three games I still didn't think I was ready for the arena," Toia said. "When the opportunity arises, you just have to take it with two hands and it goes by so quickly. 

"I was thinking I wasn't ready and then it just happened so it was a weird feeling to experience."