Queensland coach Billy Slater does not provide details on which players could replace Tom Dearden at halfback for the State of Origin series, according to multiple reports. The articles agree that Slater is taking a cautious approach, offering little confirmation about specific candidates as Queensland prepares for the next Origin match. Each outlet frames the situation around Dearden’s absence from the halfback position and the need for a replacement, while noting that Slater’s comments do not narrow the field. The reporting focuses on the uncertainty around team selection, with Slater described as “coy” or noncommittal about potential options. The outlets do not present a definitive list of replacements, nor do they reach agreement on who is leading as the likely starter. Overall, the common thread is that Queensland’s halfback selection for Origin remains undecided publicly, with Slater signaling that decisions have not been fully disclosed and that the coaching staff is considering multiple possibilities.