Ben Hunt has been ruled out of the State of Origin opener due to a hamstring injury sustained in a match against the Rabbitohs, forcing him onto the sidelines for six weeks. The 35-year-old expressed disappointment over the situation, especially with the State of Origin series approaching.
Despite this setback, Hunt remains hopeful that he could return for game two. He acknowledged it was unfortunate timing, particularly with his team, the Dragons, playing soon. Hunt reflected on his generally fortunate injury history, which has helped him throughout his career.
With Hunt absent, Queensland head coach Billy Slater has a variety of options to fill the void, particularly at hooker or off the bench. North Queensland’s Tom Dearden is considered a frontrunner for the No.14 spot. However, Hunt suggested that Slater might consider shifting one of Queensland’s star players into a different role, mentioning the potential for Cameron Munster to take over at fullback.
Hunt noted, “There’s definitely really good options – depending on what Billy wants to do,” hinting at discussions about moving Munster to fullback while starting Dearden in the halves. This would allow Kalyn Ponga to be included on the bench, providing a depth of talent.
While Ponga is a likely choice for fullback in the absence of Reece Walsh, his form this season with Newcastle has been inconsistent. Conversely, Munster has long been Queensland’s five-eighth but began his NRL career playing fullback for Melbourne. Transitioning Munster back to fullback for Origin would be an unexpected strategic move by Slater, showcasing his flexibility in selecting the squad.
Final decisions regarding the squads for the Origin opener will be revealed after the completion of round 11.