State of Origin: Ben Ikin and Phil Rothfield name their teams

Andrew Lucas

State of Origin: Ben Ikin and Phil Rothfield name their teams image

Two more experts have had their say on who should feature in this year's State of Origin series with Phil Rothfield and Ben Ikin putting forward teams for their respective states.

Sports Editor-at-large at The Daily Telegraph, Phil 'Buzz' Rothfield has shocked many with the inclusion of 11 debutants for game one on June 6 in Melbourne.

While former Queensland State of Origin player and host on Fox League Ben Ikin selected Greg Inglis as Cameron Smith's successor.

After Smith's immediate retirement from representative football last week and New South Wales only winning a series once in the last 12 years, it's no wonder both teams' selections are still up in the air.

MORE: State of Origin: Queensland coach Kevin Walters all but rules out Ben Hunt to replace Cameron Smith2018 NRL leading try-scorers: Round 11

With both sides for game one set to be announced on Monday, players will have one last chance in round 12 to audition.

THE KEY TALKING POINTS

Buzz's Team

  • 11 changes to the New South Wales 2017 side, all replaced by debutants.
  • An injection of pace in the backline with Josh Addo-Carr, James Roberts and Tom Trbojevic all named.
  • James Maloney selected, despite never taking the Blues to a series victory in the past, along with leading the NRL for missed tackles.
  • Nathan Cleary to debut with Saturday's clash against the Dragons only his second game back from a knee injury.
  • Damien Cook wins the race for the hooking duties.
  • Andrew Fifita not chosen on the back of his allegiance to Tonga.

Ikin's Team

  • Greg Inglis named new captain.
  • Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai take the wing spots over Darius Boyd and Corey Oates.
  • Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt to play in the halves, Michael Morgan the utility.
  • Andrew McCullough to take the hooking duties in place of Cameron Smith.
  • Injuries- Matt Scott chosen, Josh McGuire doesn't make it.
  • Felise Kaufusi to debut for the Maroons, Coen Hess ousted.

Here's what's the experts have decided:

PHIL 'BUZZ' ROTHFIELD'S NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM

1 James Tedesco

2 Josh Addo-Carr

3 James Roberts 

4 Euan Aitken 

5 Tom Trbojevic

6 James Maloney 

7 Nathan Cleary 

8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard

9 Damian Cook 

10 David Klemmer

11 Boyd Cordner 

12 Tyson Frizell 

13 Jake Trbojevic

14 Tyrone Peachey

15 Jack de Belin

16 Paul Vaughan 

17 Angus Crichton

BEN IKIN'S QUEENSLAND TEAM

1. Billy Slater

2. Valentine Holmes

3. Greg Inglis (c)

4. Will Chambers

5. Dane Gagai

6. Cameron Munster

7. Ben Hunt

8. Dylan Napa

9. Andrew McCullough

10. Matt Scott

11. Gavin Cooper

12. Felise Kaufusi

13. Jarrod Wallace

14. Michael Morgan

15. Jai Arrow

16. Tim Glasby

17. Josh Papalii

So with the experts having their say, who's in your State of Origin team?

Andrew Lucas

Andrew Lucas Photo