Jake Friend has put himself a step closer to a maiden Queensland State of Origin jersey after outshining Ben Hunt on Anzac Day.
On return from a shoulder injury, Friend was instrumental in the Sydney Roosters' 20-10 win over St George Illawarra at the SCG.
He pulled off a try-saving tackle on Hunt as the Dragons threatened to mount a comeback in the second half, forced an error in the lead-up to a match-sealing try and kicked a 40-20 in the lead up to another four-pointer.
Hunt, albeit playing at halfback, had a rollercoaster of an afternoon.
He set up one try but left the field late in the game with a shoulder injury.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor downplayed the extent of the knock post-match.
"We think it's a bad cork to his shoulder," McGregor said.
"I don't know too much. The actual contact wasn't a problem, he just couldn't catch a ball or pass a ball fluently enough.
"We couldn't afford that when we were down by four. We needed fit bodies on the field."
Friend has yet to play Origin despite being one of the NRL's best hookers for the majority of the past decade.
So long the understudy to Cameron Smith, he was thrown up as a likely option by Queensland coach Kevin Walters earlier this month.
"He actually got busted after about 10 minutes (with an ankle problem)," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
"He was hobbling there for nearly the whole game. But Jake, I think that was one on memory more than practice.
"That's what guys of his stature can do."
Realistically, Hunt is certain to be picked somewhere in the team for the June 5 series opener at Suncorp Stadium.
It's just a matter of where.
He's already declared he wants the No.7 jersey, but that seems destined for potential captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
He also believes he could start at No.9 for the first time, but will otherwise be used as a bench utility if Friend is the preferred option.
Asked if Friend was deserving of a Maroons debut, Robinson opted against weighing into the debate.
"I'm not going to get into that ... that's not my focus," he said.
"Players select themselves on form."
