Dale Cherry-Evans has made a remarkable injury comeback to be named in the new-look Queensland’s State of Origin squad and is tipped to captain the side.

The Manly halfback had surgery on his ankle just four weeks ago, and will have 10 days in Maroons camp to prove he’s fully fit for next Wednesday’s series opener at Lang Park.

Wests Tigers fullback Moses Mbye and Broncos duo David Fifita and Joe Ofahengaue will debut for Queensland.

New squad to bunker in CBD

With a new-look squad missing all the players who created the winning Maroons dynasty, Queensland coach Kevin Walters said he was focused on ushering in a new era.

The team will be based in the heart of Brisbane instead of their Gold Coast hideaway at Sanctuary Cove, under the guidance of an all-new coaching staff.

Former Broncos centre Justin Hodges is now assistant coach, while Origin greats Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater will be involved in a coaching and mentoring capacity.

“We want to win the series. That’s what we want to do,” Walters said.

“I guess with this younger playing group that we have coming through now, I think it was important to reinvest in those players again – some recently retired Origin greats.

“That’s the reason for the change and we’ve got them around them now.”

The Maroons will stay at a hotel in Brisbane’s CBD – very different to the tranquil surroundings of the Gold Coast, where they have spent previous years.

“There’s plenty of coffee shops around, all the things that young fellas like to do, in a very vibrant Brisbane city at the moment,” Walters said.

“We get some of these Melbourne troops up. They love their coffee and their food, so we’ve got all of that catered for.”

Coach Kevin Walters will also move the Maroons’ training base from the Gold Coast to Brisbane. Photo: Getty

‘History is a big part of the Maroons’

The team will also train in Brisbane’s inner city at a ground that can trace its roots back to the beginning of rugby league in Queensland.

Davies Park is the home ground of the Souths Logan Magpies, which is the only foundation team remaining from Brisbane’s original rugby league competition.

Back then it was known as South Brisbane before becoming the Carltons at the end of World War I, nicknamed the “West End Boys”.

Now the Queensland team will make the ground an Origin staging post as it prepares to take on New South Wales at Lang Park next week.

Their training sessions at the West End ground will also be open to the public.

Magpies CEO Jim McClelland said it was fitting for the Maroons to train at Davies Park.

“It’s a good chance for those guys to come back to where rugby league started [in Queensland] in 1908,” he said.

“There were two teams brought up on a train from Sydney when the code was first introduced into our country.

“They played that first game here at Davies Park. The site has great significance to the history of our game in Queensland.”

Walters wants to draw strength from the Davies Park history.

“A lot of great Queensland players and internationals have come out of the club,” he said.

“It’s just got really strong links towards Brisbane, Queensland, so that’s the reason we’re going back there.

“History’s always been a big part of the Maroons, where we’ve come from to where we are now, so it is a bit of a lesson for them as well.”

-ABC