Queensland’s State of Origin hopes have been rocked by news incumbent halfback Tom Dearden will miss up to two months with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n
The reigning Wally Lewis medallist suffered the syndesmosis injury in North Queensland’s 33\u201330 golden-point loss to Parramatta in Townsville on Friday night.<\/p>\n
He will miss between six and eight weeks.<\/p>\n
Dearden will undergo surgery next week and is guaranteed to be sidelined from at least the first two matches of the Origin series.<\/p>\n
If he requires the full eight weeks to recover, Dearden would not play again before the third match of the series, to be contested in Brisbane on July 8.<\/p>\n
Dearden inspired Queensland to come from behind for a 2\u20131 series win last year after replacing captain Daly Cherry-Evans as halfback in Origin II.<\/p>\n
The Cowboy was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.<\/p>\n
Dearden’s form has been less consistent for the Cowboys this season, but he had been considered a walk-up starter for Origin I.<\/p>\n
Sam Walker and Ezra Mam appear replacement options for the series opener in Sydney on May 27, but both are uncapped at Origin level.<\/p>\n
Ben Hunt may be another contender but has mostly played hooker at Origin level in recent years.<\/p>\n
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