Paul McGregor believes Ben Hunt can overtake Daly Cherry-Evans in Queensland Origin race

Paul McGregor has issued a challenge to Ben Hunt to make the Queensland halfback jersey his own ahead of his showdown with Daly Cherry-Evans.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons makes a break from his own half with the ball during the Round 15 NRL match between the St George-Illawarra Dragons and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, Saturday, June 16, 2018. (AAP Image/David Moir) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Paul McGregor has issued a challenge to Ben Hunt ahead of today’s showdown with Daly Cherry-Evans, declaring it is not too late to change Kevvie Walters’ opinion on who should be wearing the Queensland No 7 jumper this year.

The two star playmakers will go head-to-head when St George Illawarra takes on Manly in Wollongong and Hunt and Cherry-Evans make no secret they both want the Origin halfback spot.

Hunt and Cherry-Evans will go head to head on Saturday. AAP Image/David Moir.

But with all the talk Cherry-Evans is also the favourite to take over from Greg Inglis as Queensland captain, even Hunt this week seemed resigned to the fact that he was fighting a losing battle.

Most experts believe Hunt’s best chance for a Maroons starting spot will be if he is selected at hooker, and Australia’s Test coach Mal Meninga makes no secret that he believes Hunt plays his best football at dummy half.

Hunt was asked about his pending clash with Cherry-Evans during the week and while excited about the clash he didn’t try to hide where he sees himself in the halfback debate.

“Kevvie might have made up his mind already to be honest, I don’t really know,” Hunt said.

“But this game is probably going to go a long way towards helping one of us. Whether it is me or him I don’t know. But I know both of us will be going out to play our best.”

But McGregor offered a different take when he told The Saturday Telegraph Hunt should set himself the challenge of making the Queensland coach think differently.

“If he goes out there and makes a statement on a weekly basis sometimes form can change one’s opinion,” McGregor said.

“I don’t know what Kevvie is thinking but, to me, form changes opinion. And Benny has another opportunity here to do that, if in fact the decision has already been made.”

Cherry-Evans and Hunt both played halfback for Queensland last year AAP Image/Darren England.

Hunt’s defence is certainly good enough for him to handle the heavy-duty workload of playing in the middle, and his speed out of dummy half makes him a lot more dangerous than the Maroons’ other hooker options, Andrew McCullough and Jake Friend.

Both Hunt and Cherry-Evans have been in exceptional form in recent weeks with the Dragons and Sea Eagles going into this game on the back of winning their past three matches.

Hunt was the standout in the Dragons’ 40-4 thumping of Canterbury with two tries and three try assists that well and truly put his name back in the Origin frame.

McGregor’s support was instrumental in helping Hunt overcome the disappointment of losing his Queensland No 7 jumper last year.

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At the time the Dragons coach came out strongly in Hunt’s defence, declaring the Maroons were “hanging him up on one kick”.

McGregor yesterday again praised Hunt’s resilience not to give up on his Origin dream.

“He wants to put himself in the fight and he wants to put himself in the fight to wear the seven,” McGregor said.

“That is his favourite position and he did start there last year.

“If he goes out and plays the way he did last week, and he does it consistently, well, that will be a decision for Queensland to make.”

Meanwhile, NSW prop Paul Vaughan has overcome an ankle injury and after getting through yesterday’s captain’s run and will play today.

Originally published as Paul McGregor believes Ben Hunt can overtake Daly Cherry-Evans in Queensland Origin race