Queensland have unearthed another back-row giant who could terrorise NSW for many years to come with Caleb Timu’s barnstorming double securing the Maroons Under 18s a 24-18 win in Wednesday night’s State of Origin curtain-raiser.

The Brisbane development player – who made good use of his 190cm and 105kg frame to skittle Blues defenders – crossed twice in the second stanza as the junior Maroons came back from an 18-6 halftime deficit.

Running at smaller defenders on the edge of the ruck, Timu revived memories for former Queensland great Gorden Tallis with his bullocking runs.

Four NSW defenders were unable to stop him from scoring his first try four minutes after the restart, before Patrick Kaufusi and then Timu again completed the comeback.

The NSW Under 18s – which featured a line-up with rich in rugby league bloodlines including Dean Britt, son of former Test prop Darren Britt – started well with Manly juggernaut Jake Trbojevic crashing over early.

The Maroons hit back before five-eighth Mitchell Moses – nephew of former NSW Origin skipper Benny Elias – pounced on a spilled bomb.

Impressive South Sydney junior Tyrone Phillips then gave the Blues a seemingly dominant 18-6 lead when he somehow evaded five defenders in a scintillating run to the line.