He may not be regular NRL starter but Brisbane bench forward Joe Ofahengaue has been backed to step up for an injury hit Queensland.
The Maroons look set to be scrambling for fit players after prop Dylan Napa (ankle) and playmaker Michael Morgan (bicep) joined their worrying injury list ahead of June 24’s must win State of Origin II clash in Sydney.
Maroons hopeful, ex-Test prop Matt Scott (back, neck), was ruled out of North Queensland’s Friday night loss to the Warriors while Queensland are also sweating on fullback Billy Slater (hamstring) before naming their team on Monday.
There have been calls for Ofahengaue to answer Queensland’s SOS and make his Origin debut at ANZ Stadium despite being a Brisbane bench regular.
Ofahengaue, 22, has played all 13 games this season for Brisbane – but started only two.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett still believed Tongan international Ofahengaue – who has played a total of 59 NRL games – would be able to handle Origin in their crunch clash.
“I have no doubt any players here can make the step up to Origin,” Bennett said.
“The myth of it all is ‘is he ready?’
“If you are playing NRL on a regular basis they are ready.
“It’s whether they have the ability to do that or not and Joe has the ability.
“He’s a player of the future. I have no doubt he could do the job.”
Also hoping to have his name read out on Monday is Ofahengaue’s Brisbane teammate Corey Oates.
The lanky Broncos flyer faces a tough battle dislodging Valentine Holmes from the Maroons left wing after the Cronulla X-factor scored five tries in his first three Origins.
Oates played the last of his four Origins in game one last year.
“He had one bad game but had three top games but that is going to happen,” Bennett said of Oates.
“It’s a tough decision for them (Queensland selectors). Their wingers are quality.
“But it’s what you want (competition for spots). It’s up to the selectors.”
Bennett also stood up for Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough who copped some criticism for his Origin debut in their game one loss despite amassing 50 tackles in a 64 minute stint.
McCullough was stepping into the big shoes left behind by retired former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith.
“You saw the way he defended and the way the rest of them defended out there when he came off,” Bennett said of McCullough’s Origin debut.
“I thought he did a magnificent job.”
