Queensland have a selection dilemma, with reigning Ron McAuliffe Medal winner Tom Dearden a chance to miss out on Origin selection this year.
With Daly Cherry-Evans, and Cameron Munster likely to start in the halves and Harry Grant seemingly a lock for the hooker position, Queensland will need to find a place for their Cowboys star and reigning Dally M five-eighth of the year.
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Dearden played all three games of the 2024 Origin series, wearing the no.6 jersey with Cameron Munster out injured. Dearden then went on to win the Ron McAuliffe Medal- awarded to Queensland’s best Origin player each year – and his Test debut later in the year, winning Player of the Match in Australia's Pacific Championship final win over Tonga.
“I don’t think it would be uncomfortable for him to be the 14,” Wally Lewis said on QLDER. “He can fill so many positions, which he’s already done at club level: he can fill in at hooker, halfback and five-eighth. I think he played at fullback at one stage for the Cowboys so he’s quite capable of doing it.”
“If he’s not in the 17, he'll be around there somewhere,” Maroons legend and current selector Darren Lockyer added. “He’s just a great team guy to have in the environment.”
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A player of a Dearden’s calibre would be a straight forward selection in almost any team. Yet, Queensland already have a bonafide star utility in Broncos recruit Ben Hunt
“Ben Hunt has been there, done that: have a look at his performances,” Lewis said. “When he has donned the Queensland jersey he’s been in wonderful control. I remember the game he played at Suncorp [Stadium] a couple of years ago where he was in complete control. He was spending a tonne of time at dummy half and kicking to corners…that was as good a game as I've ever seen Ben Hunt play. It was remarkable.”
“If you need him to play that position [no.14] again, you know you can count on him.”
With Dearden likely stuck behind Cameron Munster for the five-eighth role in the immediate future, Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston has a plan for how Dearden could fit into the side.
Replace Daly Cherry-Evans at halfback in years to come.
“Tom Dearden over the past three or four weeks has been in career-best form,” Thurston said on Sunday Night’s rugby league coverage. “He’s really starting to take steps towards that playmaking role. His vision - he’s always been a strong runner of the ball - but his vision with the ball, he’s really starting to execute with his passes.”
“The one thing with Tommy Dearden is that he organises his edge really well. So the evolution of him moving into halfback will be organising the whole team and I think he does have that with but it’s going to come with experience.”
State of Origin squads will be announced at the conclusion of round 11.