BY KANE AUSTIN

Queensland Maroons Coach Kevin Walters says he will consult the leadership ground of the team before making a decision on Johnathan Thurston’s replacement if the legend isn’t ready for State of Origin I at Suncorp Stadium.

Thurston returned from a calf injury to play for Australia last Friday night without playing a game for club side North Queensland. He then finished the match in Canberra with a shoulder injury.

“I’ll consult Cooper (Cronk), Johnathan and Cameron (Smith) about who would be the best fit,” Walters said on NRL 360.

‘We’ve got some good talent in that position – we’ve got some good depth in our halves.

“We’re just going to have wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks and hopefully little Jonny can get himself fit.”

Michael Morgan, Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Milford and Corey Norman are the leading contenders while young Melbourne star Cameron Munster could be a smokey considering his combinations at Melbourne with Cronk, Smith and Billy Slater.

Walters has some thinking to do. By bringing Slater back into the team at fullback would shift incumbent Darius Boyd to the wing hurting Brisbane teammate Milford’s chances.

While the Maroons have a plethora of options, New South Wales look thin for depth in the halves with Curtis Woodward suggesting yesterday on The81stMinute that Matt Moylan should be shifted into the halves.

The Blues however have a long list of options in the backs and forwards.