Prince snubbed for Origin berth

Gold Coast playmaker Scott Prince has been left out of Queensland's State of Origin squad with Karmichael Hunt named five-eighth for the series opener against New South Wales.

Prince has been in sizzling form for the Titans this season but selectors viewed him purely as a specialist halfback, a position in the team nailed down by Johnathan Thurston.

Chairman of selectors Des Morris said Prince could consider himself unlucky.

"I think he'd be disappointed, but Scott's a halfback in our opinion and unfortunately he's competing with Johnathan Thurston who's probably got the edge on him at the moment," Morris said.

"We thought it would be very difficult for the team if we had both Scott and Johnathan trying to run the game."

Morris said it was Hunt's versatility that saw him shifted from fullback into the vacancy left by injured captain Darren Lockyer.

"It's a big role to fill obviously with a player of Darren's calibre not available, we feel he plays a fair bit of that position during the game and he's very strong in defence," he said.

"We figure he'll be a good mix with Johnathan."

Hunt was sympathetic towards Prince's cause.

"Definitely, I feel for him, he's been playing some terrific football of late," he said.

The 21-year old admitted to feeling a little shocked when he was told he would be playing five-eighth, having never filled that role at NRL level, but was in no doubt he could step up.

"It's not too daunting, I'm pretty confident in my ability and I think with a week of preparation and a lot of time on the training paddock, I'll be able to feel out a lot of the nerves that I have," he said.

Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith, who will skipper the Maroons in the absence of Lockyer, also gave Prince his commiserations.

"I'm sure he's disappointed, I feel a bit sorry for the guy because he's probably been the form player of the competition," Smith said.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga suggested that the Maroons had an embarrassment of riches when it came to the position of halfback.

"We had to make some tough decisions and I'm pretty happy with what we've come up with and I firmly believe that out halves combination will do the job," Meninga said.

"I think Scott realises, it's unfortunate but he's got one hell of a player in front of him at the moment … JT's the incumbent and also the Australian halfback."

"Scotty's just got to keep hanging in there."

Reigning premier Melbourne boasted six players in the line-up while Brisbane was also well-represented with five.