Tom pivotal at training
But Maroons still coy on No.6 pick
THE tale of the training tape suggests Maroons debutant Tom Dearden will be thrust into the famous No.6 jersey but Queensland is playing coy ahead of Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Cowboy Dearden trained predominantly at five-eighth in Monday’s field session at Sanctuary Cove and shared more than a few tactical exchanges with his would-be halves partner Daly CherryEvans before the team bus departed for Brisbane.
But the Maroons skipper refused to confirm who would replace the irreplaceable Cameron Munster at fiveeighth for the return to Suncorp Stadium, as the Maroons stare down another againstall-odds series victory.
“We’ve got a really clear idea of who is where. When the official team lists come out an hour before kick-off, I’m sure that’s when everyone else will find out as well,” Cherry-evans said on Monday.
Since Munster and Murray Taulagi were ruled out of game three with Covid-19, the question of who would partner Cherry-evans in the decider has grown legs.
Ben Hunt plays his club football in the halves and it is in that role that he led Dally M voting before it went private, but the Dragons’ ace has predominantly played his Maroons football in the No.9.
Dearden looked and played the part of a starting fiveeighth during Maroons training on Monday, marshalling players and combining with Cherry-evans for the bulk of the session.
“We’re lucky we have a few options there (at five-eighth). Tommy is definitely one of them and so is Benny,” the Maroons captain said.
“Tommy is playing great footy for the Cowboys. I think everyone watching him come through and develop all saw the ability he had so it’s great to see him play like he is.
“Tommy won’t skip a beat out there. Just the style of footy he plays; he’s brave, he’s a good defender (and) he’s a competitor. He won’t let the game go by.”
Cherry-evans was clear that no one would be asked to play the Munster role.
“We don’t need anyone to be Cameron Munster. There’s no one in the comp that can replicate Cameron Munster,” he said.