Make no mistake, Billy Slater and the Queensland selectors have made one of the biggest selection calls in Origin history.

I think it’s the right one. Daly Cherry-Evans has been dropped as captain and skipper, but it’s Tom Dearden’s time.

He’s 24 years old and has played four Origins. But the other side of the story is that Queensland have scored one try in two games, and it came from a NSW error – when Jeremiah Nanai belted Latrell Mitchell and the Maroons scored off the back of it.

Dearden offers more of a run threat at No.7. Especially when he’s attacking to his left, where his big play is the dummy and go. The way he plays reminds me a little of Allan Langer – all effort and tough.

The question mark for me is how Queensland’s kicking game comes together. I think Dearden will do most of the long kicking that is so crucial in Origin games. But neither he nor Cam Munster are responsible for managing that aspect of the game for the Cowboys or Storm, it’s their halves partners at club level.

Then you have to wonder who puts the polish on the end of their sets with attacking kicks? Again, that’s a massive challenge for the new Maroons halves pairing.

Dearden has come a long way at five-eighth for the Cowboys and deserves the Queensland No.7 jersey.

But that jersey brings a lot of responsibility, pressure and expectation. And by the numbers, when Dearden has been the starting halfback at North Queensland or when he started his career at Brisbane, it’s not been pretty at all.

Wearing the No.7 in 35 games, Dearden........

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