Payten declares Maroons must pick star to win Origin
North Queensland coach Todd Payten says if Queensland want to win the second State of Origin match to level the series they need to start Tom Dearden in the halves.
Dearden is favoured to replace veteran Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans for the must-win match in Perth, with the Cowboys captain consistently delivering for his NRL team.
Cherry-Evans, 36, failed to ignite the Queensland attack in game one in Brisbane, which NSW dominated to win 18-6.
While Kiwi Test halfback Jahrome Hughes starred for Melbourne in their 38-14 victory over North Queensland at AAMI Park on Friday night, Dearden still impressed in the losing side.
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Payten was firm in his belief that the 24-year-old was ready to be picked to wear the No.7 jersey rather than have a bench role for the June 18 match.
Dearden has already done the job for the Kangaroos, steering Australia to victory over Tonga in the Pacific Cup final last November, while he also impressed in the Maroons No.6 jumper in the absence of Cameron Munster last year.
"You're asking the wrong person, I know he's ready, it's just not my decision," Payten said after the Storm match.
"Selfishly, I'd love him to come off the bench, but if they want to win, I'd be putting him in the halves."
Dearden downplayed the selection quandary for Queensland coach Billy Slater, saying he was only focused on the Cowboys.
"I wasn't really looking at it as an audition," he said.
"I thought like I probably could have been a lot better with helping us with direction and then handing the ball over in the right area, so there's probably a few areas I need to look at from that performance."
Melbourne skipper Harry Grant, who had an uncharacteristically poor Origin outing after being hobbled by a hamstring injury, looked back to his best against North Queensland.
"I had a pretty clear focus of what I needed to work on from that (Origin) game it sort of hurt not being able to play after that, against the Titans, and that was just precautionary with the hamstring," the hooker said.
"I had a pretty narrow focus and it was pleasing to just get a win for the team and everyone sort of played their role within our game plan."
His Storm teammate Stefano Utoikamanu also put his hand up to replace Mitch Barnett in the NSW squad, with the Warriors prop ruled out for the season with an ACL rupture.
Utoikamanu and Keaon Koloamatangi are the favourites to take Barnett's spot with the Melbourne forward named 19th man in the Blues squad for game one when he was on stand-by for an injured Payne Haas.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who is an advisor to the NSW coach Laurie Daley and will join the squad in Perth, said Utoikamanu had pushed his case for selection.
"You think he'd be right up there in the firing line, I think he's a real big chance," Bellamy said.
"He was really solid, and some of his runs really stood out and I'm sure Laurie will be looking at his defence as well and hopefully for Stef, he'll line up in the next game."
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