With Harry Grant an unlikely starter for the opening match of the 2021 Holden State of Origin series, attention turns to the two men in the running to fill the jersey.
Dragons utility Ben Hunt and Eels rake Reed Mahoney are the primary options, and both have plenty to offer.
NRL.com senior journalists
Martin Lenehan and
Paul Zalunardo look at the merits of both, and how they can best be used by the Maroons.
For & Against - Ben Hunt should get Origin nod over Reed Mahoney
For - NRL.com senior journalist Martin Lenehan
Experience is a valuable commodity at State of Origin level and Ben Hunt has been there and done it during the past four seasons.
If you have an answer, you likely have a great buy.
Where do Jordan Riki and Tesi Niu fit in? Both are cheapies, both are set for starting spots and both are in the top 30 most popular players. Riki is hoping to take David Fifita s back row spot. Niu has been called Brisbane s best fullback prospect since Darren Lockyer , but has been training mainly in the right centre spot vacated by Kotoni Staggs (ACL).
Is Anthony Milford fit and firing? The former KFC SuperCoach stud starts at his cheapest ever price following a horror year where he averaged just 34 - half the output of his best ever season in 2017. Clearly there is massive upside in Milford if he can recapture the form of four years ago - or even match his 2019 average of 52. But it s a big IF and KFC SuperCoaches eagerly await updates on how he s training, fitness levels, commitment and the impact of Kevin The Milf Whisperer Walters.