19/06/2026
Should Billy Slater axe Reece Walsh for Tom Dearden if available for the decider? 🤔
Peter Badel from the Courier Mail seems to think so.
"Revelations that Dearden’s return from ankle surgery could be delayed a week should not deter Slater from changing a winning team and recalling the Cowboys co-captain for Origin III on July 8," wrote Badel.
"Of course, Dearden has to ultimately be passed fit, but Cowboys hierarchy are confident the Maroons maestro will be cleared to face the Panthers....If that’s the case, that will give Dearden one game to prove his fitness for the Suncorp decider.
"That should be enough to convince Slater to shake-up his six-man bench for the second consecutive game and jettison Walsh in favour of Dearden.
"Sam Walker has to be locked in as Queensland’s starting No.7 on the back of two rousing performances, but Dearden — not ‘Reece Lightning' — has to be the Maroons’ Suncorp supersub."