With the first game of State of Origin five weeks away, team selections are already a hot topic. 

With Reece Walsh’s injury, Kalyn Ponga is expected to take the fullback position, but now the spotlight turns to Tom Dearden and Daly Cherry-Evans.

Jonathan Thurston told Jason Matthews on Wide World of Sports, “If Munster and DCE are fit, then I expect Tommy Dearden to be…he could be on the bench, he could certainly be 18th man as well.”

“Our strongest side at the moment it’s, definitely a DCE and Cameron Munster in the halves.”

“But there’s still five weeks to go before that comes around, so a lot can happen in five weeks,” JT continued.

Hear more highlights from Wide World of Sports below: 

Image: Bradley Kanaris/Albert Perez/Getty Images

Download this podcast here