A year ago Chris McQueen would have laughed at anyone who had the temerity to suggest he would one day be picked in Queensland’s all-conquering State of Origin team.

Fast forward 12 months and the South Sydney utility has to take such a notion very seriously after his selection on the Maroons bench as their bolter for game one of the 2013 series.

McQueen 25, has never represented Queensland at any other level.

He didn’t consider himself an Origin candidate until the past couple of weeks.

“A few people were talking my chances up and I had to put that out of my head and focus on what we’re doing here at Souths,” McQueen said.

“If somebody had told me a year ago that I would be playing Origin in a year’s time, I probably would have laughed at them and told them that they were wrong.”

His path to Origin has been littered with setbacks.

Along the way McQueen suffered two serious knee injuries, demotion to the NSW Cup last year and a career-changing switch from the backline to the forwards.

He admitted to having some misgivings about the switch to the pack suggested by Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire.

“After a few weeks I was struggling and and I wasn’t fit enough and I wasn’t making the team,” McQueen said.

“I actually questioned him, asked him if it was the right move and he stuck with it and said it was the right move for me.

“Now I couldn’t be happier. I can’t thank him enough for it, because I’m probably playing the best footy of my life.”

Maguire praised McQueen for his perseverance.

“Last year I had to push him back to (NSW Cup side) Norths and obviously it’s tough when you’ve got to go backwards like that,” Maguire said.

“It’s awesome actually to see him get recognised.”

The selection of Souths teammates Greg Inglis and Ben Te’o should make his introduction to the star-studded Queensland side a little easier.

“Because they (Queensland) have had such a strong team for so long and have had the same team for so along, I guess I’m kind of going to feel like I’m a bit of a tag-along,” McQueen said.

“Greggy and Benny made it too, so I’ve got some teammates there.

“So when I get in there and get to know the boys, I’m sure they will make me feel at home.”