<b>Manly hooker Matt Ballin on standby for Cameron Smith in Queensland team</b>
By Wayne Heming
May 17, 2010 .Manly hooker Matt Ballin will be named as a shadow for Cameron Smith as the Queensland star battles an elbow injury that threatens to end his run of 19 straight Origins.
South Sydney's Dave Taylor's Origin dream is set to come true off the bench with Brisbane Broncos' Israel Folau - yet to reveal his future - likely to be named on the wing with Darius Boyd for the series opener in Sydney next Wednesday night.
Taylor, considered for last year's series when he was with the Broncos, is viewed as an impact player capable of busting the New South Wales Blues on the edges with his size and power.
Greg Inglis and North Queensland Cowboys' Willie Tonga will be Queensland's centre pairing with both Brent Tate and Lote Tuqiri missing out.
Smith, who has Gary Larson's record of 24 consecutive Origins in his sights, will be named in Queensland's 17-man squad on Tuesday.
However the final decision on whether he plays will be left in the hands of Queensland team doctor Roy Saunders and his medical staff who'll monitor his progress.
Understood to be desperate to play, Smith would be unlikely to do any contact training until at least this weekend, or even later.
A source rated him "50-50'' after he met Melbourne Storm doctor Andy McMahon on Monday afternoon for a progress report on the elbow he hyper-extended during the one-off Test against New Zealand a fortnight ago.
Smith, Inglis and Storm teammates Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk are all expected to be named in coach Mal Meninga's squad.
Cronk, who played the Test against the Kiwis for injured halfback Johnathan Thurston, will fill the utility role left vacant by Karmichael Hunt's defection to AFL.
Queensland have been grooming 26-year-old Ballin for just such a scenario with two Origin emerging camps.
He is understood to have got the nod narrowly ahead of Gold Coast Titans hooker Nathan Friend and Cowboys' No.9 Aaron Payne to be Smith's shadow.
The fact that he has also played and won a grand final with the Sea Eagles and is in the Smith mould, also weighed in his favour with selectors.
With Canterbury-Bankstown prop Ben Hannant ruled out following knee surgery, Queensland will hit NSW up front with the new Test combination of Petero Civoniceva and Dave Shillington.
Punishing Sydney Roosters forward Nate Myles has served his penance for his off-field behaviour last year which cost him a Queensland jumper for the third game and will start in the back-row alongside Brisbane's in-form Sam Thaiday.
Titans player Ashley Harrison shifts to lock to replace tackling machine Dallas Johnson.
Thurston's surprise appearance against the Warriors at the weekend removed any concerns his latest shoulder injury could keep him out of the match which will be skipper Darren Lockyer's Origin swansong.
AAP
