While the half's incredible NRL resurgence will see him wear the No.6 instead of Munster (COVID-19) in the State of Origin decider, backrower Jeremiah Nanai's first Origin starting role has flown under the radar.
The 19-year-old played through an ankle injury in game one and was exposed in the Maroons' loss in Perth, clutching at air as Jarome Luai skipped past to score as the floodgates opened in the second half.
Coach Billy Slater has promoted him from the bench though to replace Felise Kaufusi (personal leave), allowing some familiarity for the teen talent.
Nanai has scored 13 tries in his 18 NRL games for North Queensland, routinely outjumping rival backs to become an aerial threat with a defensive workrate to match.
Relatively unsighted so far in the Origin arena, Slater's hoping that changes for Nanai on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium.
"He's a huge talent, he's still only very young and what he's doing in his career right now is unbelievable," Slater said.
"He's only going to get better, but he gets an opportunity to settle into his position where he's comfortable and I'm looking forward to seeing him play out there."
Slater said Dearden would wear the No.6 but wouldn't confirm if he'll start, despite the 21-year-old training alongside halfback Daly Cherry-Evans ever since Munster was scratched.
"I've said to Tom a number of times throughout the series if he was wearing a Maroons jersey in a State of Origin game I wouldn't be concerned one bit," the coach said.
"Now he's going to be and I'm not concerned one bit.
"I'm really confident in Tom, love the way he plays his football.
"(He's a) true competitor, tough defender, organises his area really well and brings out the strengths in people around him."
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