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Walters snubs Maroons star as potential JT replacement

Queensland coach Kevin Walters seemed to forget about one big name when revealing who he might consider to replace Johnathan Thurston for Origin III.

Thurston's hopes of a State of Origin farewell are officially over, with the North Queensland halfback ruled out for the rest of the NRL season with a shoulder injury.

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A shattered Thurston will undergo surgery on his right rotator cuff after scans revealed multiple injuries in his shoulder after Wednesday night's 18-16 Queensland win.

On Thursday night Walters was asked about the prospect of losing Thurston and who he would consider as his replacement.

Anthony Milford played game one in Thurston's absence, but he too is out with a shoulder injury.

"Michael Morgan would be an option for us," Walters said on NRL 360.

"(Cameron) Munster was the 18th man so he'd be another one for us.

"Corey Norman's being playing well for Parramatta so those sort of guys, Moses Mbye is another who would possibly come into the picture so we have some options there but there's only one little Johnny."

While Morgan, Munster, Norman and Mbye are all worthy options, Walters seemed to snub one man who has experienced Origin football before - Daly Cherry-Evans.

Cherry-Evans played six Origin games from 2013 - 2015, mostly as a bench utility but also as a starting halfback when Cooper Cronk was injured.

Munster, Morgan and Cherry-Evans. Image: Getty
Munster, Morgan and Cherry-Evans. Image: Getty

Walters could be playing possum with the media considering he'd likely want someone with experience in the Origin arena to come in for game three, rather than blood a rookie in a decider.

Maroons legend Gorden Tallis says the Manly skipper would be the smart choice.

"His last six weeks have been outstanding," Tallis told The Late Show with Matty Johns.

"He was pretty ordinary in the first month of footy but he's starting to run the footy and Manly's luck has turned around and they're working hard for each other.

"If Cherry-Evans keeps playing the way he's playing, of course he's going to come back into contention.

"His running game is back. When Daly Cherry-Evans was at his best, his running game was sublime."

Queensland immortal Wally Lewis, who played 32 of his 34 Origins for Queensland in the No.6 jersey, said the temptation of an all-Melbourne spine for selectors would weigh heavily in Munster's favour.

"We keep talking about the 'awesome foursome' (of Billy Slater, Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith) in the build-up to last week's game," Lewis told AAP.

"We were talking about the blokes who play together so much for Queensland and work together so well.

"Well, here's a bloke that has been playing in the Melbourne Storm jersey with these other blokes consistently.

"He would have played more games alongside the other three than JT did."

Queensland will also be without Darius Boyd after the game two centre broke his thumb.

Justin O'Neill could be rushed straight back in or Dane Gagai could be moved to the centres with Corey Oates recalled to the wing, but Walters hinted that Munster is the front-runner to make his Origin debut in the spot.

"He's played some centre at that level — very much respected among the group with his defence and the way he goes about his footy," he told Triple M.

"So he will be an option for us."

with AAP