The stakes for Sam Walker on Wednesday night are higher than just keeping the Maroons in the State of Origin series. There is also an opportunity to ensure that the reigning Wally Lewis Medal winner does not reclaim his jersey.
Despite Queensland’s 22-20 loss in the first game, with New South Wales pulling off a last-minute victory after Kalyn Ponga was sent off, Walker delivered a performance that earned him recognition as a potential man of the match on his debut. The Roosters halfback, who has been praised by Darren Lockyer and Wayne Bennett as the next great player in the style of Allan “Alfie” Langer, contributed two try assists for Robert Toia and Tom Flegler, giving his team an early advantage. His kicking game then created pressure that led to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring from a Cameron Munster grubber.
Queensland coach Billy Slater believes that Walker will need to find another level now that he has experienced Origin. “Whenever you play well, whether it’s in a single game or throughout a season, backing it up in the next year or game is something you really need to focus on,” Slater said. “We always chase improvements, and sometimes we forget about getting back to the standard that you actually played that game in.”
However, even if Walker leads a Maroons comeback in Melbourne and forces a decider at Suncorp Stadium, his chances of finishing the campaign may still be uncertain. Incumbent halfback Tom Dearden, who was the player of the series last year, was expected to return against the Warriors on Sunday after a syndesmosis injury sustained in round 10. However, he has not been named in the squad, with club teammate Murray Taulagi hinting at possible delays.
“I think he had a bit of a setback with his injury, but he should be back just after the bye. Everyone’s pretty keen to see Tommy back in action,” Taulagi said. Dearden, who scored two tries, a try assist, two linebreak assists, and recorded 243 running metres across games two and three last year, has been working hard to recover.
Maroons and North Queensland forward Reuben Cotter added: “I know he would have liked to have been here for game two and help with preparations, but obviously it wasn’t to be. But he’s doing everything he can back home to make sure he’s ready to go … he’s on track, I think the recovery they said would be four to six weeks, so it’s all going ahead.”
If Dearden returns next week, he will have just one game – against the ladder-leading Panthers – to prove he hasn’t missed a beat and can make an impact in game three. Before his setback, he had been in excellent form, continuing from a career-best 2025 season in which he earned his first Test jumpers for Australia.
After Queensland struggled when they tried to run around the Blues, Dearden’s direct approach changed the series when he replaced skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in the halfback position. His signature dummy runs and hard running have made him a challenge for opposing teams, as noted by Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima.
“I got the chance to play against JT [Johnathan Thurston] – he was one of the best halves to go down in the game – and he just has the same traits as what he does,” Nikorima said. “We see him turn up on defence, he’s got a run-first mentality when he’s got the ball which makes him a threat, and I think the best thing about him is he just competes to the end. He breaks tackles, he’s starting to add that pass and kicking to his game, and it’s going to make him even more of a threat.”
Despite Dearden’s successes, Walker must stick to the strengths that earned him his call-up if he is to inspire a win and convince Slater that continuity is needed for game three. His strengths lie in his instinctive short kicking game and ability to play what is in front of him without fear.
“If anyone can, Sammy can,” Maroons forward Kurt Capewell said. “I think a lot of the great players stick to their guns. You’ve got to be confident in those positions, so [he needs to] back himself. If it doesn’t come off, we’re there to defend it.”
