The Origin career of Daly Cherry-Evans is in serious doubt, with Billy Slater set to become the first Queensland coach to drop a Maroons captain mid-series since Trevor Gillmeister in 1996.
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Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson on Saturday night referenced an article from The Courier Mail, who reported Cherry-Evans was set to be axed in favour of Tom Dearden for the must-win game in Perth.
“Daly Cherry Evans has captained the Maroons for the past six years. Kev (Walters), that’s when you handed him the honour and has had three series wins, chalked up 26 Origin games,” Sampson said.
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“Look, DCE was a little philosophical about it when everyone’s asked him and said, look if it’s the end of my origin career, then so be it.”
Maroons legend Kevvie Walters believes Cherry-Evans is preparing himself for the fact he may get dropped.
“I think he’s okay. Well, not okay, but I think he’s maybe coming to realisation or terms that if that does happen, this is how I need to react,” Walters said.
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“But Kev dropping the captain in the middle of a series,” Sampson interjected.
“Well, it’s a big decision and that’s part of coaching Queensland,” Walters said.
“It’s a huge decision. It’s probably one of the biggest decisions that a coach has had to make at that level for some time.
“Maybe last year with Tedesco against Edwards. That was a big call as well from a New South Wales point of view, but from a Queensland point of view, yeah, not a bigger decision has ever been made for a long time. Since you mentioned it, Trevor Gillmeister in 1996 was the last captain to be dropped mid-series. So it has been done before.
“For me, look, I don’t know the answer. I’m pleased that Billy’s the coach and I’m not the coach, because it’s a tough decision.
“One way of thinking is, right, we pick DCE and we play. If we lose the series, then the series is done for the year and obviously DCE would be finished as well or the other way.
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“Can we pick it up now and fight and win the next two games? What is the best team for Queensland for that to happen? And that’s the decision that Billy and the selectors will make.
“I’m sure he’s got good people in his corner to give him good information, but at the end of the day, it’ll be Billy’s decision. And it’s a tough one. Let’s not kid around.”
Cooper Cronk believes Slater needs to work out if he can win with Cherry-Evans at halfback and go from there.
“Yeah, it’s a must win. Put it down simple is that,” Cronk said.
“Can Queensland win game two with Daly? Yes, they can. Can they win it with Tom Dearden in it? Yes, they can.
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“That article doesn’t quote anyone, Billy or any of the selectors, so it’s pure speculation.
“But if the media know, then maybe it is leaning towards that way.
“But I’ve said this a thousand times. If I’m Billy, I’m having a one-on-one chat with Daly and I’m saying, can you deliver for your state one more time? If I’m Billy and I walk away from that conversation believing he can, I think he gets picked. If I’m walking away thinking that he can’t, then maybe the decision has to be made.
“But at the end of the day, I think the only real opinion that matters here is Billy’s thoughts.”
Walters believes it would be a tough call to drop Cherry-Evans and he is glad he not the coach.
“I don’t think, and I’ll be honest, too many of those Queensland players would have walked off that field happy with their performance,” Walters said.
“And DCE would be one of those. He would be looking to get, if I’m DCE I want another opportunity, but is that the right opportunity to give to someone in this game?
“Again, it’s not my decision, it’s Billy’s, so we’ll leave it to Billy.”
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However Shaun Johnson echoed James Graham that it is more a reflection of how good Tom Dearden is playing, rather than how bad Cherry-Evans is going.
“We sat with James Graham in this chair last night, he actually made a good point where I was like, oh, you know what, that’s exactly right,” Johnson said.
“I’m on the Jimmy side. So, he said that it was more about how well Dearden’s playing as opposed to Cherry-Evans not playing well.
“And when he said that, it sort of added up in my head because Dearden is having a great year, stepping into that role at the Cowboys, taking the reins a little bit.
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“I think he plays a lot more direct. He’s a tough little bugger who will take the line on.
“And when you’ve got that at the tip sheet, I’m sure it’s just as important in Origin as anywhere else.
“When you have got a halfback that wants to take the line on genuinely, it changes your whole attack, changes how the defence moves. And we saw that with what Cleary and Moses did in game one.
“But I think we need to look at it more like it’s Cherry-Evans is Cherry-Evans. He’s one of the greatest to do it, right?
“This isn’t going to affect what he’s done in the game at all, either way. That’s my opinion.”
