WHAT price Kevvie Walters picks up the phone and reaches out to Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk about a State of Origin comeback?

You’d have to be tempted after the shock Cameron Smith news today.

What gives the concept even more legs is you could pair one of the champions with young gun Cameron Munster and then play Ben Hunt at no.9

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All of a sudden the Queensland spine looks almost as dangerous as ever.

Hunt was brilliant for the Broncos at hooker last year after Andrew McCullough was ruled out for the season.

We asked Queensland coach Walters whether he has or will pick up the phone to JT or Cronk.

“No mate, they’ve made their decision as well,” was his response.

In the event JT or Cronk aren’t prepared to come out of retirement, the Maroons are still flush with options.

Of course, it’s impossible to replace Cameron Smith. But if they play Hunt at hooker, all of a sudden is there room for Kalyn Ponga?

All of these weird and wonderful Maroons Origin theories have been pitched up in the wake of Smith’s Origin call.

If Michael Morgan and Cameron Munster are your halves and Hunt plays hooker, there’s still a utility position available on the interchange.

Surely Ponga comes into calculations there. Or what about Daly Cherry-Evans?

And who is the Maroons new goal-kicker? It’s hard to remember the last time Johnathan Thurston or Cameron Smith weren’t kicking goals and winning games for Queensland?

DCE is a goal-kicker. Does that enhance his chances? Valentine Holmes has previously kicked goals at the Sharks.

But the best bomb-proof option would be the great JT.

Even though Kevvie hasn’t picked the phone up yet … surely it’s got to be tempting.