Who will Billy Slater pick in the Maroons No.7 jumper?

May 15, 2026 — 10:30am

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Queensland Maroons veteran Ben Hunt says Sam Walker and Tanah Boyd are up to the task of filling the state’s halfback void left by Tom Dearden.

A syndesmosis injury has ruled Dearden out of the series opener in Sydney on May 27. He is no guarantee of being available for game two in Melbourne on June 17.

Dearden’s absence strips the Maroons of a man in form – leading the competition for line engagements (79) while sitting third for try assists (11), second in line break assists (14) and second for line break involvements.

Coach Billy Slater’s safest options are the veterans – Daly Cherry-Evans, Jamal Fogarty and Hunt, the latter pairing both just returning from calf and knee injuries respectively.

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However, if Slater is hunting fast, direct play, none of the No.7 contenders have engaged the line more than Walker (43), while he boasts the most forced drop-outs (10).

His 84 running metres a game makes him one of the stronger threats vying for the job – trailing Jake Clifford (85) and Jayden Campbell (113).

While Clifford makes a strong case with his booming kicking game and strong defence (90.1 per cent efficiency), Boyd has emerged as a smokey after guiding the Warriors to the top two.

He sits in the NRL’s top five for points (92), line break involvements (11), kick metres (4839) and attacking kicks (70), while producing 10 try assists.

“He’s been superb, the Warriors are obviously playing some really good footy, and he’s been the spearhead of that,” Hunt said.

“He had a rough drop........

© The Sydney Morning Herald