DCE backs 'brave' Dearden to stand tall in decider

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans knows no one can replicate what Cameron Munster brings but someone can replace him and put their own name in lights at Suncorp Stadium in Origin III.

The official teams won't be released until an hour before kick-off but Cowboy Tom Dearden looks a certainty to wear the No.6 jersey in his Origin debut, leaving Ben Hunt at hooker and Cherry-Evans calling the shots from halfback.

Having left his fingerprints all over Game One with a player of the match display, and scoring a try in the second match, Munster's absence due to COVID leaves a massive hole, but DCE says the 17 men who take the field in Brisbane are primed for something special.

"Obviously we've trained and we've got a really clear idea of who's where so when the official lists come out, everyone else will find out as well," Cherry-Evans said on Monday.

"Tommy [Dearden] is playing great footy with the Cowboys. Everyone who watched him come through and develop all saw the ability that he had so it’s good to see Queensland with so many great options.

"He won’t skip a beat out there, just the style of footy he plays. He’s brave, he’s a good defender and he’s a competitor, so he’s not going to let the game go by.

"Benny [Hunt] was leading the Dally Ms before it went behind closed doors and I dare say he’s still leading it based on the footy he’s been playing so we all trust Benny, we love having Benny in the side and he’s going to make a big impact on the game no doubt.

"We're lucky we’ve got a few options there in the halves. Tommy is definitely one of them and so is Benny so it’s exciting. We're feeling really comfortable with both of those guys.

"I’ll be halfback and we'll be nice and clear and direct on the calls that we’re going with and whoever plays No.6 just has to be themselves, it's as simple as that.

"We don’t need anyone to be Cam Munster, no one in the comp can replicate Cam Munster. He is his own unique beast and no one can replicate him but we’re all excited about what we can do to help the team."

The news that Munster and exciting youngster Murray Taulagi had tested positive to COVID on Friday sent shockwaves through the Maroons camp, with Dearden and Broncos winger Corey Oates called into the squad as replacements.

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With eight Origin appearances already to his name, Oates should be right at home on the big stage, but Dearden has just 49 NRL games under his belt and is certain to be targeted in defence by a Blues side riding high after a thumping win in Perth.

Among those riding shotgun for the 21-year-old will be Maroons stalwart Josh Papali'i, a veteran of 22 Origin games who has a point to prove after playing just 48 minutes across the first two matches.

"There has been a little bit of external noise on where Josh is at and when people start talking about you, the only way you have to respond is your football and I know he’s going to be right up for it," said Cherry-Evans.

"The challenge has been laid to him, and whenever that challenge has been laid to him in the past, he has responded.

"Paps is the leader of our pack. He doesn’t haven’t to say a whole lot but his actions speak louder than most people I’ve played with."

As Papali'i goes about his business quietly, the loudest voice in a Maroons jersey may well be Cherry-Evans as he looks to lead Queensland to a series win for the second time, after joining forces with Wayne Bennett in 2020 to mastermind a stunning 2-1 upset.

"As soon as we left Perth it was hard not to think about Game Three," Cherry-Evans said.

"Apart from the 80 minutes I played at Brookie against Melbourne [in round 16], I’ve been thinking about the decider, so in two nights we get a great opportunity to go out there and make all our dreams come true.

"Being the skipper, I want to make sure I’m really clear and really direct on where our team wants to go on Wednesday night and off the back of that if we have clear direction then everyone can play their best footy.

"I'm not the sort of person who puts any extra pressure on myself [with Cameron out]. I hold myself to a pretty high standard as a footy player anyway, and I'm also the sort of person who looks at opportunities, and this is an opportunity for everyone to step up."