Maroons coach Billy Slater was adamant he wouldn’t be “playing games” in the lead-up to the series opener — but that attitude has clearly changed. Following Cameron Munster’s omission due to Covid-19, Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden has been brought into the starting 17. Slater confirmed the 21-year-old would wear the No.6 jersey, but wouldn’t reveal if he would run out alongside Daly Cherry-Evans to start. NRL360 host Braith Anasta highlighted the big shift in Slater’s mentality suggesting the pressure is on ahead of a Game III decider. “We interviewed Billy Slater before Game I and after Game I, after the victory, and there was no playing games, it was all laid out, this was the team I am picking, this is the team that is running onto the field,” Anasta said. “Then all of a sudden, we go to Suncorp in a decider and Billy has changed, it is amazing.” The rookie coach previously stated ”I’m not here to play games” prior to the series opener after naming Ben Hunt in the No.9 jersey, explaining “he earnt the right” to start. But now, when asked if Dearden will be given the opportunity to start, Slater remained tight-lipped. “Can you confirm that Tom will start at five-eighth?” a journalist asked during Monday’s press conference. “No I can’t... I just can’t confirm right now, our players are very clear on their roles, I’ll say that,” Slater responded. “He will play five-eighth when he is out there, just whether he starts or not we will make that decision closer to the game. “We have to name a 19-man squad today, and then we will name our team an hour before kick-off. “We are pretty clear.. I know my team, I know our team.” Slater explained his side have two options to take over the vacant five-eighth positions — Ben Hunt and Tom Dearden. “We have an opportunity to start Harry Grant and Ben Hunt can move into the halves, he is leading the Dally M at the moment, he is playing some great football, that’s why he is in the team. “We’ve got an opportunity to start Tom Dearden, so they are the two scenarios we are sort of flirting with at the moment.” Slater also threw his full support behind the Cowboys young gun who has enjoyed a strong season with the revitalised Cowboys outfit who currently sit second on the competition ladder. “I have said to Tom a number of times throughout the series, if he was wearing a Maroons jersey throughout the series I wouldn’t be concerned one bit,” Slater said. “Now he is going to be and I am really confident in Tom... he is a true competitor, he is a tough defender.”