Called in to the VB Blues' Game Two squad at the 11th hour as cover for the suspended Jack De Belin, Panthers forward and True Blue Trent Merrin is again on notice leading into the Origin decider.
With questions surrounding the health and fitness of captain Boyd Cordner leading into the Suncorp clash, Merrin appears next in line for an Origin recall – though says he hasn’t been nominated as a would-be replacement by coach Laurie Daley.
“There’s been no contact [from Daley], and everyone knows what Boyd’s like,” Merrin said on Thursday.
“He may need every day leading up to it, but he’ll make the most of those days, too.
“He’s a professional, he’s the captain for a reason. He’ll be putting himself in the best position to lead them out onto the field for Game Three, and he’ll do a good job against them.”
While Cordner is expected to take to the field in the Origin decider, questions have been asked of who will assume the VB Blues captaincy if he is to miss Game Three.
Laughing off suggestions he could assume the captaincy pending Cordner’s unavailability, the 27-year-old middle forward threw his support behind a former Dragons teammate – backing VB Blues tearaway Tyson Frizell as a leader in waiting.
“Tyson does a great job at club level, it’d be nice for him to lead them out, he’s definitely a leader,” Merrin said.
“Me personally, I’d like to see him take on the reins. In saying that, I know Cordner will put himself in a good position to get the job done.”