Queensland must adjust to life with Cameron Smith, says Mal Meninga

Queensland’s dummy-half conundrum all hinges on Daly Cherry-Evans and if he is available for Game One. But the bottom line is Cameron Smith isn’t coming back, writes MAL MENINGA.

Mal Meninga believes Queensland need DCE.

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Queensland’s dummy-half conundrum all hinges on Daly Cherry-Evans and if he is available for Game One.

I believe he is ahead of schedule with his recovery from injury and if he is fit, then Ben Hunt has to be the Maroons’ new No.9. It really is that simple.

Ben has to be the first choice. He played there in Game Three last year, has a great kicking game, is creative with the ball in hand and defensively very solid.

He has played both hooker and halfback right through his junior days and even into his early years at the Broncos. I believe he is just as good at No.9 as he is at No.7, which makes him an incredible valuable player at representative level.

Cameron Smith‘s Origin days are over. Image: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

We will need a cover for him because he probably won’t be able to play a full 80 minutes at hooker, so that is where someone like Josh McGuire will be asked to fill in for short periods of time while he has a spell.

But if Daly falls short in his return from an ankle injury, then Ben has to go No.7 and Jake Granville wouldn’t let anyone down at hooker. Jake can play 80 minutes, he is experienced and provides a bit of x-factor with his speed out of dummy-half.

Parramatta Eels’ Sunshine Coast product Reed Mahoney is a bit young still but he is certainly a player of promise and one worth keeping an eye on in future years.

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The bottom line is Queensland needs to move on from Cameron Smith. We need to find our next long-term hooker and unearth them young men who are going to grow into the next leaders of our footy team.

Cameron is still playing great footy and it would be a great advantage for Queensland if he did decide to make a comeback.

But on the flip side, he has got to think about his club career and the statements he has made about retiring from rep footy to concentrate on that. Cameron has always been a man of his word and I don’t expect he will be back.

Queensland are sweating on DCE’s recovery. Image: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

With Game One being at Suncorp Stadium this year it is even more important that Queensland gets the team balance right, because then it is off to Perth for Game Two and then Sydney for Game Three.

You must set up your series with a good start. Home ground advantage is a big thing in Origin and crowds do influence the outcomes of matches. The Queensland crowd is really well educated, always chanting and cheering at the right times. That is important to a team because it does give you a lift.

But it is the team selection that is critical and as coach Kevvie Walters has already mentioned, so is who will captain this next generation of Maroons. Which is why it all hinges Daly Cherry-Evans.