Maroons scramble as Inglis ruled out

One option for Walters is for Dane Gagai to move infield, which could see Broncos match-winner Corey Oates earn a recall on the wing.

Yesterday young gun Kalyn Ponga was also ruled out.

Newcastle said the 20-yearold Maroons bench utility had suffered a lateral hamstring strain in Saturday’s NRL loss to Canterbury and would be sidelined for three to four weeks.

It is another headache for Queensland coach Kevin Walters for July 11’s dead rubber in Brisbane, with concerns also for prop Dylan Napa (knee).

While Walters had been tipped to retain maligned halfback Ben Hunt, Ponga’s injury creates a bench utility vacancy that Cherry-Evans has filled in his six game Queensland career.

He last played for the Maroons in 2015.

“Every game I wait by the phone so we’ll see what happens,” Cherry-Evans said of his Origin III chances after Manly’s 18-10 NRL win over Penrith on Saturday.

There was initial speculation that the Sea Eagles playmaker may replace Hunt at No.7 after the Blues sealed their second series win in 13 years with an 18-14 Game Two triumph.

Hunt was savaged for his inability to exploit NSW being a man down in the final 10 minutes at ANZ Stadium with the game and series on the line. He also conceded the first Origin penalty try in 37 years.

However, Hunt has received a groundswell of support in the past week. Former Queensland captain Gorden Tallis led the charge, saying Hunt had been unfairly singled out after his third-tackle grubber that went dead with Blues centre James Roberts in the sin bin.

“One brain explosion should not spell the end of his career in the Maroons No.7 jersey,” Tallis said.

Anthony Milford is another bench utility option after inspiring Brisbane’s 26-22 NRL win over Canberra on Saturday.

Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue or Melbourne’s Tim Glasby may be called in as cover for Napa who suffered a knee injury in the Sydney Roosters’ loss to Melbourne on Friday night.