Source :- THE AGE NEWS
More is at stake for Sam Walker on Wednesday night than the chance to keep the Maroons alive in the State of Origin series.
There is an opportunity to ensure the reigning Wally Lewis Medal winner does not take back his jumper.
Despite Queensland suffering a 22-20 defeat at the death in game one, as New South Wales stormed home after Kalyn Ponga was sent off, Walker played a role worthy of contending for man of the match honours on debut.
The Roosters halfback – lauded by Darren Lockyer and Wayne Bennett as the next Allan “Alfie” Langer – produced two try assists for Robert Toia and Tom Flegler to give his state the early ascendancy. His kicking game then built the pressure that led to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow diving onto a Cameron Munster grubber to score.
Queensland coach Billy Slater expects Walker to find another gear now he has experienced Origin.
“I think whenever you play well, whether it’s an individual game or a season, backing it up the next year or game is something you really need to focus on,” Slater said.
“We always chase improvements, and sometimes we forget about getting back to the standard that you actually played that game in.”
But even if Walker can spearhead a Maroons comeback in Melbourne and force a Suncorp Stadium decider, his prospect of seeing out the campaign will remain under a cloud.
Incumbent halfback Tom Dearden, last year’s player of the series, was due to make his return against the Warriors on Sunday from a syndesmosis injury suffered in round 10, but has not been named to take the field, with club teammate and Maroons winger Murray Taulagi hinting at some delays.
“I think he had a bit of a setback with his injury, but he should be back just after the bye. Everyone’s pretty keen to see Tommy back in action,” Taulagi said of the man who produced two tries, a try assist, two linebreak assists and 243 running metres across games two and three last year.
Maroons and North Queensland forward Reuben Cotter added: “I know he would have liked to have been here for game two and help with preparations, but obviously it wasn’t to be.
“But he’s doing everything he can back home to make sure he’s ready to go … he’s on track, I think the recovery they said would be four to six weeks, so it’s all going ahead.”
Should Dearden return next week, he will have just one game – against the ladder-leading Panthers – to prove he has not missed a beat and will be able to make an Origin impact in game three.
Before succumbing to his setback, he had been in electric form – carrying on from a career-best 2025 campaign in which he garnered his maiden Test jumpers for Australia.
After Queensland had been bullied off the park when they attempted to run around the Blues, Dearden’s direct approach changed the complexion of the series once he was called into the halfback jersey at the expense of skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
His trademark lavish dummy as he runs hard at rival defences has made him a nightmare for rival sides, as alluded to by Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima.
“I got the chance to play against JT [Johnathan Thurston] – he was one of the best halves to go down in the game – and he just has the same traits as what he does,” Nikorima said.
“We see him turn up on defence, he’s got a run-first mentality when he’s got the ball which makes him a threat, and I think the best thing about him is he just competes to the end. He breaks tackles, he’s starting to add that pass and kicking to his game, and it’s going to make him even more of a threat.”
Despite Dearden’s successes, Walker will need to ensure he sticks to the strengths that earned his call-up if he is to inspire a win and convince Slater that continuity is needed for game three. His strengths lay in his instinctive short kicking game and ability to play what is in front of him without fear.
“If anyone can, Sammy can,” Maroons forward Kurt Capewell said.
“I think a lot of the great players stick to their guns. You’ve got to be confident in those positions, so [he needs to] back himself. If it doesn’t come off, we’re there to defend it.”
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