Cameron Smith, the man regarded as rugby league’s greatest-ever dummy-half, has hailed Cronulla’s Blayke Brailey “the form hooker in the NRL”, and a player who deserves to head to the Ashes series as the Kangaroos’ back-up No 9.

While Sunday’s Broncos-Panthers clash is doubling as an Australian fullback audition for Reece Walsh and Dylan Edwards, Friday night’s battle of the hookers featuring Brailey and Melbourne’s Harry Grant will be just as fascinating.

Brailey is yet to play Origin football for NSW, but Smith knows the 27-year-old and Cronulla captain is good enough to wear the green and gold.

Smith said Brailey had leapt ahead of Roosters-bound Reece Robson, who was the back-up hooker for Australia during last year’s Pacific Championships.

“Harry is the best hooker in the competit

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