Jake Clifford leads Nrl News Queensland halfback race after Dearden blow

Jake Clifford has moved to the front of the nrl news around Queensland’s Origin halfback race after Tom Dearden was ruled out of Origin I. Sam Walker’s push has cooled at the same time, turning what looked like a straight fight into a wider scramble.

Clifford Sits Ahead

At this stage, Clifford may be the favourite to replace Dearden for Queensland at seven. The Cowboys playmaker has emerged as a bolter in the Origin fold, with the halfback spot now drawing attention from Sam Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jamal Fogarty and Tanah Boyd.

Gorden Tallis made the case for Clifford on Monday night’s episode of NRL360. That came after Braith Anasta said the talk around Walker being named at halfback had cooled since the weekend.

Anasta said: "I would think that most people would’ve thought when Dearden went down that Sam Walker would be the number one (choice at halfback)". He added: "Look at the Roosters and his form. He’s been waiting in the wings and at these junior Maroons camps but normally you know what the coach is thinking by the messages that have been put out there days afterwards and Sam doesn’t look like he’s in favour."

Walker Faces Pressure

Tallis also pointed to Walker’s frame when the Origin pressure rises. "There’s a question mark with his size and coming up against the big back rowers," he said, before adding: "The NRL is a jungle and when it comes to State of Origin, it’s just a meaner part of it. Every weakness in your game gets exposed."

That is the friction point in the selection race. Walker was long viewed as a Maroons halfback in waiting, but he was sidelined with a knee injury when Queensland made its halfback decision last season, and the race has now reopened around Clifford, Cherry-Evans, Fogarty and Boyd.

Slater’s Dearden Call

There is recent history behind the shift. Billy Slater named Dearden at seven to partner Cam Munster after Daly Cherry-Evans was axed following Queensland’s Game I loss last season.

That call worked out for Queensland. Dearden went on to be named player of the series after leading the Maroons to two straight wins to clinch the series, which is why the sudden opening at halfback carries so much weight now that he is out of Origin I.

Clifford now sits in a stronger position than he did a few days ago. For Queensland, the choice is no longer about whether Dearden keeps the jersey; it is about whether Clifford can hold off Walker, Cherry-Evans, Fogarty and Boyd for the shirt that Dearden turned into a winning one last season.