Billy Slater, coach of the Maroons, has declined to confirm whether Reece Walsh will make a return for the State of Origin, as Queensland aims to keep their series hopes alive.
Last year's Clive Churchill Medal recipient, Walsh was not selected for Origin I, with Slater unable to accommodate the Brisbane star in his squad during Wednesday's 22-20 loss to NSW in Sydney.
Instead, Slater chose Kalyn Ponga to take the fullback position, and Ponga is expected to participate in the second game in Melbourne on June 17, having been cleared of a suspension for a shoulder charge on Tolu Koula.
When asked if Walsh would be reconsidered for the upcoming MCG clash, Slater refrained from making any predictions.
"There's a lot of ifs … we'll just put one foot in front of the other," Slater stated.
"We'll pick ourselves up … We had five guys debut for Queensland tonight. They didn't get the feeling that they wanted in the dressing-room."
"Hopefully we can give them that in the future."
"The heart and spirit that they fought with - with 12 men - they fought hard."
"This is the journey we've been put on. These are the cards we've been dealt and we'll be playing the hand."