Billy Slater has meant the world to Queensland during his 27-game career spanning back to 2004. It felt like he meant even more than that when he was told his services weren't required for the opening game of the 2017 series.

This was, after all, the man Miles would describe as "probably the best fullback I've ever seen". That includes Darren Lockyer, another Maroons selector, who was in agreement with Miles and Walters when it came to Slater's fate.

There was a time when it was inconceivable that a fit Slater would be left out of a Maroons side. Along with Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston, he has been one of the undoubted stars of an era of blinding rugby league brilliance.

But a long-term shoulder injury would leave Slater stranded on the sidelines and in his place, Darius Boyd would go from a media-shy, troubled talent to one of the best players in the game and a club captain.

With his form without fault and having been the winner of the Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland last year, finding reason to either drop Boyd or demote him to the wing required an insurmountable case. At 33 and at just 10 games into his comeback, Slater was agonisingly short.

"Look at what Billy has done. He's played 27 games. Of course he demanded special consideration. The way he's come back, the pressure he's put on Darius ... Darius even offered to go on the wing," Miles said.

"But he [Boyd] was the Ron McAuliffe Medal winner last year, Player's Player in two of the three games. His form with Brisbane has been exceptional. He's got a duck egg in his mistakes column. We couldn't ignore that.

"We've got a number of players not playing in this series and we had some options. But this was the back three from last year. Darius' guidance from the back was invaluable.

"And the question about this being the toughest decision, I don't say that lightly. It was. And I feel awfully sorry for Bill. He feels he's ready to play at that level. I haven't faced up to it yet. I will in a few days ... but this was a majority [unanimous] call."

Spare a thought then for Lockyer, a close friend of Slater and a man that has shared some of the greatest moments of his career with the Innisfail flyer, who still plays the game with the joy of a kid in the backyard.

It weighed heavily on Walters, who struggled through tears to explain the rationale behind the decision. Boyd has become un-droppable and Slater wasn't considered a genuine option to replace incumbent wingers Dane Gagai and Corey Oates.

In any case, Slater hasn't played on the wing for Queensland since his debut in 2004, meaning he would have had to wind back the clock 13 years to re-train himself in what has now become a very different position.

"He was very close, mate. [But] I think it's a bit unfair on Billy to put him under so much pressure in game one of a series," Walters said

"Everyone expected him to come out and change the world. We've relieved him of those duties and I know Darius will get the job done for us. He's a great player and deserves first crack at the No.1 jumper."