Andrew McCullough thought his State of Origin moment would never come.
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For 10 long years, the Brisbane hooker has been the Stuart McGill to Cameron Smith's Shane Warne - impeccable at his craft, but stuck at No.2 in the pecking order behind one of the all-time greats.
Would his chance to play for Queensland ever actually arrive, or would his hopes and dreams of carving out an Origin career of his own remain forever unfulfilled?
That question used to eat away at him.
"If I'm honest, I worried about it probably in my early 20s," McCullough said.
"But as I got a bit older ... I just enjoyed my football and reminded myself that I was very lucky to get to do something (like that) for a living.
"It's worked out well."
Indeed it has.
Smith's shock retirement earlier this month has finally brought an end to McCullough's decade-long spell as his understudy.
The 28-year-old admits it hasn't fully sunk in yet that the Queensland No.9 jersey now belongs to him, and him alone.
"It came at the right time. I felt like I have deserved it," McCullough said.
"What Cameron's done for this jersey was remarkable and can never be replaced.
"That's not what I'm here to do - I'm here to compete and be myself.
"My role doesn't change and it hasn't changed at the Broncos for the last 10 years, and that's why I think I've been picked for this team."
McCullough's selection for next week's Origin opener at the MCG also reunites him with former Broncos teammate - and ex-housemate - Ben Hunt.
The pair lived together after moving to Brisbane from their regional homes in south-east Queensland and were instrumental in driving the Broncos to the 2015 grand final.
They now have the chance to become the faces of a brand new era for the Maroons, with Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk all retired and Billy Slater to join them next year.
"Kids growing up together from Dingo and Dalby, it's pretty crazy," McCullough said.
"It's exciting and a big opportunity for ourselves. We don't need to get too carried away with that.
"It's a big job and I'm excited, nervous - a whole heap of emotions - but I've got to make sure I do what's required."
Australian Associated Press
