Queensland’s State of Origin hopes have been rocked by news incumbent halfback Tom Dearden will miss up to two months with an ankle injury.
The reigning Wally Lewis medallist suffered the syndesmosis injury in North Queensland’s 33–30 golden-point loss to Parramatta in Townsville on Friday night.
He will miss between six and eight weeks.
Dearden will undergo surgery next week and is guaranteed to be sidelined from at least the first two matches of the Origin series.
If he requires the full eight weeks to recover, Dearden would not play again before the third match of the series, to be contested in Brisbane on July 8.
Dearden inspired Queensland to come from behind for a 2–1 series win last year after replacing captain Daly Cherry-Evans as halfback in Origin II.
The Cowboy was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.
Dearden’s form has been less consistent for the Cowboys this season, but he had been considered a walk-up starter for Origin I.
Sam Walker and Ezra Mam appear replacement options for the series opener in Sydney on May 27, but both are uncapped at Origin level.
Ben Hunt may be another contender but has mostly played hooker at Origin level in recent years.
AAP
