At its heart, the tiny town of Dingo in central Queensland is a roadhouse wedged between two major highways.

It might be small, but it's home to one of the best and toughest rugby league players ever to pull on a Maroons jersey.

Ben Hunt will make his 20th State of Origin appearance for Queensland in Wednesday night's series decider at Lang Park in Brisbane.

The Maroons hooker will join the likes of Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and Queensland coach Billy Slater in reaching the esteemed 20-game club, earning the prestigious Dick "Tosser" Turner Medal.

"I was always happy just to play one [Origin] game but to get 20 is a massive achievement and something I'm very proud of," Hunt said.

"You look at the list of guys that have made it and to be in their company … I'm very honoured to be able to share that Tosser medal [with them]."

The 34-year-old said making his Origin debut off the bench for Queensland in the 2017 decider in Brisbane remained one of his career highlights.

"We won as well so that was pretty special," he said.

"Scoring that runaway try [in 2022] is definitely up there as well."

'Tough little bugger'

Hunt's rise to Queensland greatness is no surprise to his former junior coach.

The "boy from Dingo" is one of many success stories to hail from renowned Queensland rugby league nursery, St Brendan's College in Yeppoon.

Hunt's old schoolboy coach, Terry Hansen, said the Dragons, Queensland and Australian playmaker was bred tough.

"Ben was always a special player and the tougher the competition got, the better he played — he's always been a tough little bugger," Hansen said.

"I've had some pretty proud moments over the years and Ben's one of them, who have gone onto the next level."

Hansen said when Hunt was a 13-year-old, he tried to cut the plaster off a broken arm because he didn't want to let his teammates down.

"When Ben was in grade eight, I was the coach of the open team and he was under-13s and he'd broken his arm about two weeks out from the grand final," Hansen said.

Hansen said Hunt's parents, Geoff and De-Ann, gave him a great start to life in Dingo.

"Ben comes from a really good family and he's always been very humble and never forgotten where he came from," Hansen said.

Milestone match

As he edges closer to the end of his career, Hunt is unsure whether this will be his final campaign in maroon.

"It could be. I'm not too sure — it's not something I've given a lot of thought to," he said.

"At the moment, I'm just enjoying playing Origin and playing footy.

"I've always said as long as Billy [Slater's] going to call I'd be happy to play — it's always a huge honour to play Origin — but I think it's going to come to a point where I'll make a decision, at some stage."

Hunt's proud family will be in the 50,000-plus crowd on Wednesday night, while back home in Dingo, locals will also gather to cheer on the town's famous footballer.

The Origin player said he would be up for any challenge New South Wales threw at him in his milestone match.

"Come Wednesday night, it's going to be a real tight battle — it's going to be a tough game and one that both teams are going to be up for," he said.

"We just need to draw on everything we can and really embrace the crowd at Suncorp [Stadium] and go out and get a win.

"Coming back to Suncorp, it is always the place we play our best footy. 

"It is our home ground and a place where you don't like to lose. It brings out the best in us."