Josh Papalii's sudden State of Origin retirement has blown open the race for selection in Queensland's forward pack, as coach Billy Slater prepares to choose from a competitive field for the series opener.
Papalii, 31, announced his shock retirement from the Origin arena on Thursday, less than two weeks before Game One at Adelaide Oval on May 31.
The Canberra veteran has been an automatic inclusion in the Maroons' set-up in recent seasons, having played every game for which he was available since the beginning of the 2017 series.