Bulldogs star Kurt Mann emerges as surprise Queensland Maroons bolter
Billy Slater could hand out a shock Queensland call-up, a Maroons legend has raised concerns over Daly Cherry-Evans, while incumbent five-eighth Tom Dearden could miss out. See the latest Origin news.
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Queensland love producing a State of Origin bolter.
Ben Ikin in 1995, Chris Beattie in 2002, Adam Mogg in 2006 and Corey Allen in 2020.
The Maroons could be on the verge of producing another one.
Underrated Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann is in the midst of serious consideration for a shock State of Origin debut.
Hailing from the small country Queensland town of Winton with a population of just 1,100 people, Mann has emerged as a genuine bench spot contender for the Maroons team to face NSW in Brisbane on May 28.
Hugely valued by the Dogs, Mann’s name has emerged as Billy Slater prepares to name his 17-man squad for Queensland.
Mann, 32, is believed to be in a battle with J’Maine Hopgood, Corey Horsbrugh, Beau Fermor and Kurt Capewell for a Maroons bench spot.
A member of the Queensland under-20s side in 2012, Mann was also called into the Maroons squad as the 19th man under former coach Paul Green for game three of the 2021 series.
Following previous stints at the Storm, Dragons and Knights, Mann was one of Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo’s first signings when he commenced his NRL coaching journey at the club in 2024.
The Daily Telegraph contacted Ciraldo on Thursday to discuss the possibility of Mann earning a shock call-up to the Maroons side.
“If Queensland selectors are looking at Kurt, I can understand why,” Ciraldo said.
“He’s such a valuable contributor to our team with the way he plays for his teammates. He’s such a selfless character.
“Kurt is everything that you see, all effort in the toughest areas of the game.
“I said at the time that we signed Kurt that I couldn’t believe he was off-contract. I’m sure glad that he’s a Bulldog.
“Another thing I know is that it’s always been his ambition to represent his state, so passion for the jumper certainly won’t be an issue.”
Mann’s leg speed and high work rate in the middle of the field at lock is a major factor in the Dogs surge to the top of the NRL ladder.
Incredibly versatile, he has played fullback, wing, centre, five-eighth, halfback, hooker and lock throughout his 204-game career.
The proud Queenslander will have one final match to impress Slater when the Dogs face the Roosters on Friday night at Accor Stadium.
With Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden also poised to secure a bench spot, the remaining two interchange positions would likely feature either Mo Fotuaika, Lindsay Collins or Reuben Cotter.
MAROONS LEGEND REVEALS DCE FEARS
—Peter Badel
Maroons legend Cooper Cronk fears the Daly Cherry-Evans contract saga could derail Queensland and has called on the skipper to come clean with a call on his NRL future.
Cronk, one of Queensland’s greatest playmakers, believes Cherry-Evans must go into the 2025 Origin campaign free of distractions as he prepares for a halfback duel with NSW champion Nathan Cleary.
Queensland will name their team this Monday for Origin I on May 28 and Cherry-Evans is under pressure to lead a Maroons fightback after last year’s series loss to NSW.
The 36-year-old last month formally advised Slater he was available for selection for this year’s series, which could represent DCE’s swan song to Origin football.
But there are fears Cherry-Evans’ ugly contract spat with the Sea Eagles could spill over into Camp Maroon and negatively impact the captain’s performances for Queensland.
It’s been almost two months since Cherry-Evans dropped a Brookvale bombshell by revealing he was quitting the Sea Eagles at season’s end.
Since then, Cherry-Evans’ form has fluctuated and Cronk urged the Manly champion to publicly reveal his future to go into the Origin series with a clear mind.
Cherry-Evans has been consistently linked with the Roosters but has yet to make a definitive call.
“Daly has had the right intentions, but no-one still knows what he is doing,” Fox League expert Cronk said of Cherry-Evans, who is tipped to sign with the Roosters.
“But it’s now got to the point where he needs to just get it out there and move on.
“The Origin part to me … he is the captain of Queensland.
“He has had a great back end of his career and this potentially (could be his last series), Daly needs to stand up because my starting spine is Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and DCE.”
Slater recently told this masthead he had no concerns about Cherry-Evans’ form amid the playmaker’s contractual fallout with Manly.
“That’s the one thing I love about Daly, that’s how he goes into every Origin game and that’s his mentality,” Slater said.
“He is honest with himself.
“No-one wants to play too long but Daly is playing as well as I’ve seen him play.”
Manly are clinging to eighth spot and Cherry-Evans has one final game against the Cowboys this Saturday in Townsville to make a statement before Origin selection.
Cherry-Evans will trade tactical blows with Cowboys pivot and Origin teammate Tom Dearden, whom Cronk believes should be picked as Queensland’s No.14 super sub.
“I’d have Dearden on the bench,” said Cronk, who made his Origin debut in the No.14 jumper in 2010 before his move into the starting side.
“Put him out there and let him do his thing.
“He will not let Queensland down.”
DEARDEN PUTS HAND UP FOR NEW MAROONS ROLE
—Travis Meyn
Cowboys terrier Tom Dearden has thrown his hand up for Queensland’s vacant utility jersey, insisting he is up for a showdown with NSW’s giants in the Origin furnace.
Maroons coach Billy Slater needs a new No. 14 for the May 28 series opener after Queensland statesman Ben Hunt was sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.
Hunt, 35, has performed admirably for Queensland in a 20-game Origin career that’s been played mostly in the middle as a hooker or lock forward.
Dearden has played his entire 112-game NRL career in the halves and his four Origin appearances for the Maroons have come at five-eighth when deputising for regular No. 6 Cameron Munster.
But the pint-sized playmaker insists he is ready for whatever comes his way if he is handed the utility role which could see him support starting hooker Harry Grant, who is under an injury cloud with a hamstring problem.
“I’d certainly be up for it,” Dearden said.
“That will be up to Billy and the selectors.
“Whatever they think is best for Queensland to go out there and take the series back.
“I’d love to be involved in the Origin team again.
“All I can do is focus on playing my footy.”
While Dearden is the incumbent Maroons five-eighth, it is hard to see him holding on to the jersey given Melbourne star Munster is back in the selection mix after missing the entire 2023 series.
Dearden will shift to halfback for the Cowboys in Saturday’s clash against the Sea Eagles in Townsville, pitting him against Queensland and Manly No. 7 Daly Cherry-Evans in the final Origin selection audition.
Dearden, 24, conceded Munster and Cherry-Evans, barring injury or suspension, would be Queensland’s halves for Game One at Suncorp Stadium.
“Munster and Cherry-Evans have done such a great job for Queensland for so many years,” he said.
“It’s pretty hard to go past those two.”
Hunt’s injury has opened the door for Dearden to retain a spot in Queensland’s 17, provided Slater believes he can hold his own against the likes of Blues giants Payne Haas, Spencer Leniu and Mitch Barnett in the midfield.
Dearden also has an important job in guiding the Cowboys this weekend after halfback Jake Clifford was dropped.
Young gun Jaxon Purdue will move into North Queensland’s No. 6 jersey and Dearden said he was a big fan of the teenager.
“He has been great,” he said.
“He is a great young kid.
“The best thing about him is at training he is so willing to work on his game and learn.
“It’s really shown on the field. He works hard on his game and that’s starting to pay off for him on the field.”
Originally published as Bulldogs star Kurt Mann emerges as surprise Queensland Maroons bolter
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