Live: Hunt rules himself out of Origin, says Broncos replacement is ‘obvious’

— reporting by AAP

Ben Hunt has ruled himself out of State of Origin I after suffering the first hamstring injury of his long career in Brisbane’s 22-14 loss to South Sydney on Friday night.

The Broncos booked the 35-year-old playmaker in for scans in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon to determine the severity of his injury.

But even before meeting with the medics, Hunt was pessimistic about his chances of featuring in Billy Slater’s team for Origin I on May 28.

“I knew it wasn’t a cramp or something like that, it felt a bit more than that. I knew something was pretty wrong straight away. It definitely hurts,” he said.

“Whether Billy was going to have me in there again or not, I’m unsure, but it’s definitely disappointing to know that you’re definitely not in the picture.”

Hunt has been one of Queensland’s most consistent performers and has typically played as a back-up hooker at Origin level, with Slater now needing to look elsewhere if he wants cover for likely number nine Harry Grant, who is also on the comeback from a hamstring injury.

Reed Mahoney, Kurt Mann and Max Plath are options, or Slater could choose to play an additional half on his bench, presumably Tom Dearden.

The options for Hunt’s replacement as Brisbane’s five-eighth are less bountiful, although he said it was “pretty obvious” who the Broncos should replace him with.

Having served a nine-game ban after crashing his car while driving without a licence and under the influence of drugs, Ezra Mam is set to return to rugby league on Sunday.

The 22-year-old is expected to line up for Souths Logan Magpies in their rescheduled Queensland Cup season opener against Western Clydesdales in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.

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