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Queensland’s hopes of avoiding a State of Origin series whitewash have received a blow after young gun Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of game three.
Newcastle said the 20-year-old Maroons bench utility had suffered a lateral hamstring strain in Saturday’s NRL loss to Canterbury and would be sidelined for three to four weeks.
It is another headache for Queensland coach Kevin Walters before the squad for July 11’s dead rubber in Brisbane is unveiled at 7pm AEST Sunday, with concerns also for prop Dylan Napa (knee).
The door may again be ajar for Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans to end a three-year exile and return to the Origin arena.
While Walters had been tipped to retain maligned halfback Ben Hunt, Ponga’s injury creates a bench utility vacancy that Cherry-Evans has filled in his six game Queensland career.
He last played for the Maroons in 2015.
“Every game I wait by the phone so we’ll see what happens,” Cherry-Evans said of his Origin III chances after Manly’s 18-10 NRL win over Penrith on Saturday.
There was initial speculation that the Sea Eagles playmaker may replace Hunt at No.7 after NSW sealed their second series win in 13 years with an 18-14 game two triumph.
Hunt was savaged for his inability to exploit NSW being a man down in the final 10 minutes at ANZ Stadium with the game – and series – on the line.
He also conceded the first Origin penalty try in 37 years.
However, Hunt has received a groundswell of support in the past week.
Former Queensland captain Gorden Tallis led the charge, saying Hunt had been unfairly singled out after his third-tackle grubber that went dead with Blues centre James Roberts in the sin bin.
“One brain explosion should not spell the end of his career in the Maroons No.7 jersey,” Tallis told News Corp Australia.
Anthony Milford is another bench utility option after inspiring Brisbane’s 26-22 NRL win over Canberra on Saturday. So too is Wests Tigers recruit Moses Mbye.
Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue or Melbourne’s Tim Glasby may be called in as cover for Napa who suffered a knee injury in the Sydney Roosters’ loss to Melbourne on Friday night.
Gold Coast’s Jarrod Wallace is set for a reprieve despite failing to nudge 50m in the two Origin games this year.
Queensland will name their team for Game 3 at 7pm (AEST) tonight.
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