'Hearing some chat': Injured star Ben Hunt claims Cameron Munster could switch positions for Maroons
Ben Hunt won't be taking part in the State of Origin opener due to injury - but the Maroons veteran has floated a surprise shake-up for the side.
The 35-year-old suffered a hamstring injury last weekend against the Rabbitohs and will now be sidelined for six weeks, ending his hopes of keeping his Queensland spot.
Hunt said while he is an "outside chance" of being back in time for game two, the setback was "disappointing" given what is on the horizon.
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"I'm not too bad to be honest," he told 4BC's Wide World of Sports Radio.
"Obviously it's disappointing and the timing isn't great with the Dragons this weekend and Origin around the corner.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt during a Queensland Maroons training session. Getty
"I've had a pretty good run with injuries for my career, so I can't complain too much."
Hunt has played a variety of roles for the Maroons throughout his 20 appearances in the game's fiercest arena, but will now be forced to watch from the sidelines.
In his place, head coach Billy Slater has a plethora of options at hooker or on the bench, with Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden seen as the obvious No.14 replacement.
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However, according to Hunt, there is another "handy" option that Slater might explore, which would involve a positional change for one of Queensland's best players.
"There's definitely really good options - depending on what Billy wants to do," he said.
"You're hearing some chat about maybe [Cameron] Munster going to fullback and things like that. If he wants to put Munster at fullback and start Tommy in the halves, then you've got KP [Kalyn Ponga] on the bench, so that's pretty handy as well.
Kalyn Ponga during last year's Maroons camp. Getty
"His debut he [Ponga] played in the middle and was probably our best player.
"He wouldn't be a bad option."
Ponga is seen as the obvious choice at fullback with Reece Walsh unavailable, but has been part of an under-performing Newcastle Knights team this year.
Munster has been Queensland's five-eighth for years but did start his NRL career at fullback for Melbourne.
Putting Munster at fullback in the Origin arena would be a bombshell selection curve ball from Slater.
The squads for the Origin opener will be announced at the conclusion of round 11.
