A stitched-up Pat Carrigan has declared himself fit for Queensland's State of Origin opener, despite a gruesome injury that required late-night cosmetic surgery.
The Brisbane forward collided with St George Illawarra's Jack de Belin in the final minute against the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
Blood poured from Carrigan's mouth as he exited the field and was checked for structural damage, with fears he had broken his jaw.
The 2022 Origin player of the series was cleared though, and had "30-odd" stitches inserted by a plastic surgeon on Sunday night.
Named in the No.13 by coach Billy Slater for next Wednesday's Suncorp Stadium opener, Carrigan is the only Broncos player in the Queensland 17.
"Good to go, provided Bill doesn't change his mind," Carrigan said.
"The doctor said he put a few extra (stitches) in there in case I cop a bump.
"There was blood everywhere and the Dragons boys were freaking out, saying it was bad.
"Lucky I had a mouthguard in, otherwise I'd have a few teeth missing and an angry mother.
"It's (my modelling career) in jeopardy ... I'll have a head like (Maroons teammate) Lindsay Collins soon."
Carrigan hoped his time in camp could have a positive impact in club-land, where the 5-6 Broncos have slipped out of the top eight.
And he has a chip on his shoulder after the Blues won the Brisbane decider last year and the Maroons' forward pack was criticised for being outmuscled.
"The proof's in the pudding. We're always going to be ridiculed in that area as a Queensland team, it's been like that since day dot," he said.
"We've got some wrongs to right."
Slater didn't think the lack of Broncos in his squad was any reflection of the state's rugby league stocks.
"I think we've only got one Bronco in our Queensland team at the moment, which I don't know if I've seen for a long time," he said.
"Queenslanders are flushed throughout the NRL, they're not just in the Queensland clubs.
"There's a lot of Queenslanders throughout the whole NRL. I don't think there's any less Queenslanders in the NRL just because the Queensland-based teams aren't playing well."
