In earlier years, a player could be named in the next season's squad, despite already making their State of Origin debut. Since 2010, once a player has represented Queensland, they are deemed to have "graduated" from the squad and are not selected again. Since 2001, 66 players who have participated in the program have been selected to play for Queensland in State of Origin.[1][2][3]
Just seven of the 17 players in the 2002 squad would go on to represent Queensland. Cameron Smith, the current Queensland captain and their most capped player, and Johnathan Thurston, Queensland's second most capped player and highest point scorer, were selected for the first time. Justin Hodges made his debut for Queensland in the 2002 series.[1]
The 2004 squad featured seven players who had previously represented Queensland, while five members of the squad would make their State of Origin debut later that year. Brent Webb, Brett Seymour, Jaiman Lowe and Michael Witt were the only players who would not go onto represent Queensland during their careers. Webb, a Cairns Kangaroos junior playing for the New Zealand Warriors, would represent New Zealand later in the year under residency grounds, thus making him ineligible to play for Queensland.[4]
10 members of the 2005 Emerging Origin squad would represent Queensland during their careers. Ashley Harrison, Johnathan Thurston and Ty Williams all made their Origin debut in the 2005 series, while Carl Webb was recalled to the side after a four-year absence. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, who was born and raised in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, was originally thought to be eligible for Queensland after joining the Broncos as a teenager but was later ruled ineligible. He later played four games for New South Wales.[5]
Four members of the 2009 squad would go onto represent Queensland in their careers, while Corey Parker had previously played State of Origin. Parker, who last played for Queensland in 2005, was recalled to their side for the 2009 series. Brett Seymour made his final appearance in the squad, as did Ashley Graham, who returned for the first time since 2002. David Shillington was the only player from the squad who made his Origin debut in that year's series.[7]
The 2010 squad was the first to start the tradition of not selecting players with State of Origin experience. Just three players from the squad went onto to play State Origin, with David Taylor making his debut in that year's series.[8]
