After a crushing State of Origin defeat – at the hands of three of his club teammates who were wearing sky blue at ANZ Stadium in the series-sealing win for NSW – the former Queensland No.7 Cooper Cronk was quick to back Hunt.

Cronk declared Hunt should be Maroons playmaker for the dead-rubber at Suncorp Stadium, so too his Dragons coach Paul McGregor.  But his fate may be decided by how he responds for the Dragons, starting with Thursday night’s showdown with Parramatta at WIN Stadium.

"He is definitely the Queensland halfback going forward," Cronk told Fox Sports. "Stick with him. Because you can't define a career ending on a couple of months. He will have the opportunity to redeem himself. What are the options? Ash Taylor still needs development. There is talk about (Daly) Cherry-Evans, but Ben Hunt is doing terrific football for the Dragons. Pick him and let him do his job."

 The Dragons are two points clear at the top of the NRL ladder, with the perfect opportunity for Hunt to fire against Parramatta, at the foot of the ladder with just three wins this year. 

The Eels clash is the second-last game in Wollongong this season, with the Dragons to meet the Warriors in August.

Tyson Frizell has been rested for the Dragons on Thursday night, while Jack de Belin may yet be ruled out. Samoa’s Leeson Ah Mau and Tim Lafai are named after the international weekend, while England’s James Graham and captain Gareth Widdop are all expected to play after the Test match in Denver.

Darren Nicholls, Reuben Garrick and Patrick Herbert have been named in an extended 24-man squad.