Dearden set for baptism of fire
QUEENSLAND coach Billy Slater is set to take his first big Origin gamble by starting unproven Cowboys rookie Tom Dearden at five-eighth in Wednesday night’s Origin decider against the Blues.
Slater has attempted to keep the Blues guessing by insisting 21-year-old Dearden is no certainty to replace Covid-stricken Cameron Munster as he weighs up starting hooker Ben Hunt at second receiver in Origin III.
But it is understood Dearden has been told he will start at the scrumbase alongside skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in the biggest baptism of the Broncos discard’s NRL career.
Only a last-minute change of heart from Slater, who mulled over deploying Dearden off the bench, will prevent the Cowboys pivot starting in the iconic No.6 jumper made famous by Queensland legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer.
Slater was tight-lipped until the very end.
Speaking to the media at his final press conference before Queensland’s captain’s run, 24 hours out from the Suncorp decider, the Maroons coach applied the ultimate poker face as he refused to reveal whether Dearden is the five-eighth ace up his sleeve.
“I can’t confirm that right now. Our players are very clear on their roles, I’ll say that,” Slater said.
Asked if Dearden is his likely starting pivot, Slater said: “Yeah … he will play fiveeighth when he is out there.
“Whether he starts or not, we will make that decision closer to the game.
“We have to name a 19-man squad (on Tuesday) and we will do that and then we will name our team an hour before kick-off.
“Tom Dearden will wear the No.6, we will work out whether he starts the game or comes off the bench.”
Pressed on whether he knows the make-up of his 17man squad, Slater added: “We are pretty clear. I know my team. I know our team. It’s Queensland’s team.”
Slater said his scrumbase selection conundrum should not be seen as a lack of faith in Dearden’s ability to step-up for Munster.
“I’ve said to Tom a number of times throughout the series, if he was wearing a Maroon jersey in a State of Origin game, I wouldn’t be concerned one bit,” Slater said. “I am really confident in Tom, I love the way he plays his football.”