LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Reece Walsh faces significant challenges in reclaiming his position in the Maroons' Origin team after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow excelled in the No.1 jersey during the recent series-deciding victory over NSW.
Meanwhile, Tom Dearden acknowledges that Nathan Cleary remains the frontrunner for the Kangaroos' halfback role despite Dearden's standout performance in the No.7 jersey for Queensland.
NSW legend Andrew Johns noted Dearden had "one of the great Origin performances," being crucial in the Maroons' success.
Dearden stepped in for former Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans after Game 1 and contributed significantly to the Maroons' victory in Game 2, taking home player of the series honors after scoring two tries and assisting in two others in the final match, where Queensland won 24-12.
Conversely, Cleary had a disappointing outing with the Blues, struggling with his kicking game and failing to connect with halves partner Jarome Luai, leaving the NSW side unable to counter Queensland's defensive pressure.
Although Cleary is generally regarded as the top No.7 in the game, his rigid style-effective in Penrith's four consecutive NRL premierships-has not translated well into Origin matches.
This performance has raised questions about whether his position on the Kangaroos could be at risk, although Dearden attempted to downplay such speculation.
He stated, "I think Nathan Cleary is the best player in the game, he's the No.7 no matter what."
Dearden expressed his desire to be part of the Kangaroos squad but emphasized that he would focus on his performance with the Cowboys and "not think about" the national team until later in the year.
Last year, Dearden made his Australian debut during the Pacific Championships in the absence of Cameron Munster and Cleary, and he shone in the final against Tonga.
However, he believes it is too early to be thinking about the Kangaroos' No.7 jersey for this year's end-of-season Ashes series.