Brandon Smith has claimed a “rat” in the Queensland ranks leaked the news of captain Daly Cherry-Evans’ axing from the Maroons team for game two.
News Corp reporter Brent Read broke the news Cherry-Evans would be dumped over a week before the Maroons’ team was announced.
James Graham was surprised that Read reported the story that far in advance of the team being named.
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“What’s noticeable about this is pretty much straight after Origin I it was being widely reported that DCE was gone,” Graham said on his podcast, The Bye Round.
“Brent Read was adamant that he was gone. The fact that Brent Read was reporting it … he’s got that information from someone that’s very heavily connected to Queensland.
“The fact this was coming out of Queensland camp raises alarm bells.
“It’s un-Queensland-like.”
Smith, who appears on the podcast with Graham, went a step further.
“There’s a rat in the house, you reckon?” Smith said.
“It’s sad but it is what it is. What can you do about it?
“There is a rat.”
Cherry-Evans will be replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback for game two in Perth on Wednesday night, with Cameron Munster taking over the captaincy.
BULLDOGS BOLTER CALLED INTO BLUES CAMP
Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz has been called into Blues camp after Brian To’o tweaked his hamstring at training.
To’o won’t train on Thursday as a precaution but is still expected to play in Game 2 in Perth next Wednesday night.
Kiraz enjoyed a breakout season last year and was on the cusp of being picked in the Game 1 squad before a calf injury struck.
The 23-year-old is the fifth Bulldogs player called into Origin camp and will join Stephen Crichton, Max King and Matt Burton, while Kurt Mann is set to make his Maroons debut.
Panthers star To’o has endured two hamstring injuries this year and pulled up sore after beating the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Blues medical staff are confident him missing Thursday’s opposed session is precautionary and that he will fly with the team on Sunday and run out next week.
HOW BLUES ENFORCER EMBRACED SUNCORP
Blues utility Connor Watson has revealed how enforcer Spencer Leniu embraced the hostility from the Suncorp Stadium crowd in game one.
According to Watson, who is also Leniu’s club teammate at the Roosters, the NSW firebrand urged bench players to go for a jog down the sideline just nine minutes into the game.
Footage shows Leniu was far from bothered by the jeers from Maroons fans, and even appeared to enjoy it, having plenty to say back to them.
“We had finished doing all the pre-game stuff and we went to run to the bench and sit down but Spencer was like ‘let’s go for a run’,” Watson told The Daily Telegraph.
“He was pretty hyped up at the time. I’ve seen him before games, he is normally pretty geed-up, it doesn’t matter but it was a lot more hyped that game and the crowd was booing him and stuff.
“He just leans into it, he loves it.
“I was running with Campbell Graham, I was just cracking up laughing at just how much he embraced the villain role in the first game.
“After the game, it was one of the things we were talking about the most. It was a moment that I would remember for the rest of my life I reckon.”
Leniu, who is currently on a self-imposed media ban, has had a running battle with Queensland fans, which was sparked by a verbal spat he had with Johnathan Thurston on the field after an NRL game at Suncorp Stadium back in April.
During game one, footage showed Leniu blowing up at Maroons players for deciding to avoid kicking off to him once he had come on the field.
Munster QLD skipper – Man shuns media | 02:24
NEW CAPTAIN MUNSTER REVEALS SLATER TEXT FEARS
Cameron Munster was unveiled as the Maroons’ skipper on Monday morning, but after a late night text from Billy Slater he was of the belief he could be on the chopping block.
The 30-year-old will take over from the axed Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland’s skipper, and Munster was handed a scare, thinking he could be next.
“At 9:30 last night Billy just messaged me saying ‘are you around?’. I said ‘yeah, I’m just sitting in my room’ and he’s like ‘come to my room’,” Munster said to reporters on Monday.
“I was thinking what could this be about? I could be getting dropped or maybe I’m 18th man or something like that.”
However, the news was instead positive, being handed a leadership role ahead of a must-win clash for Queensland with NSW holding a 1-0 series lead.
“But Billy just brought me into the room, said ‘look mate, I want you to be the captain for Queensland and I think you will do a great job’,” he said.
“He pretty much just told me to lead by my actions, I don’t need to be a talker or go out there and try motivate the boys, they have enough motivation as it is.”
Munster has previously been known as a rugby league larrikin, but after his infamous white powder scandal in 2021 the Storm superstar was handed a reality check.
Since then, the talented playmaker has attempted to become a leader and even he couldn’t envisage a future where he captained his state in his younger playing days,
“It’s pretty emotional, if you asked me that question five or ten years ago everyone would have laughed in your face,” Munster said.
“I think I have developed into a big of a leadership role over the last three or four years, grown up a little bit. I know that’s hard to say.
“Very excited to lead this team out, I know it’s terrible circumstances with Chez. I’m really good close mates with him, it’s disappointing but someone had to take the role.
Munster postive QLD can level the series | 02:29
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“I’m pretty excited to lead these boys out on Wednesday night and looking forward to it.”
As for his new halves partner Tom Dearden, Munster was of the belief the Cowboys gun could have easily taken his spot and not Cherry-Evans’.
“He’s been playing some great footy, unfortunately one of my good mates Chez had to be left out, he’s breathing down both our necks Tommy,” he said.
“We had to find a spot for him and look he’s been playing some great footy the past couple of years… made that position his own for Australia.
“I’m really fortunate to play alongside him and I am really excited to see what combination we can bring on Wednesday.”
SLATER’S BIG TEAM MAKE-UP CALLS
After dropping skipper and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, the Queensland coach is set to make several changes to the make-up of his side for Game II according to Code Sports.
Broncos enforcer Pat Carrigan will reportedly start off the bench, with one-gamer Trent Loeiro wearing the No.13 jersey in his place.
Kurt Capewell will reportedly start in the back row alongside Reuben Cotter after the Warriors gun was recalled into the Queensland side.
‘P*ss poor!!’ Woods launches at Slater | 02:22
The veteran takes over on the edge from Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai who will shift to the bench, while Raiders enforcer Corey Horsburgh will not feature after earning a call-up to the extended squad.
Kurt Mann, meanwhile, is set to wear the No.14 and take over from Tom Dearden as Queensland’s bench utility.
After he was a surprise inclusion, Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam will reportedly wear the No.18 jersey as the Maroons’ replacement players.
DALEY CONFIRMS MAY MEETING
NSW coach Laurie Daley has confirmed he sat down with Tigers gun Terrell May, who was once again left out of the Blues squad ahead of Game II.
The 26-year-old has been arguably one of the in-form forwards in the NRL in 2025, delivering consistent performances in the middle since joining Benji Marshall’s side.
His omission for the series opener shocked many, and Daley was asked if he was one again in contention for Game II.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of players that were very close but unfortunately you can’t pick them all,” Daley said.
“But the fact that those two blokes (Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith), very experienced, playing really good football at the moment. It did enough to get them in the squad.”
Following his omission, May sought a meeting with the NSW coach, which according to Daley was a positive interaction.
“It was great, to sit there and talk to Terrell. I find him a really good fella. He’s a guy who is very passionate about playing for NSW,” Daley said.
“And a guy that no doubt will get an opportunity in the Blues at some point. Unfortunately though, the team we have selected is the way we are going for this game.
“But he keeps working hard for the Tigers, I have no doubt that at some stage he will find himself in this team.”
In the lead up to the series opener, with reports he was set to miss out on Origin selection circling, May also had an outburst while streaking with a friend.
“You know that Blues jersey I bought you? Chuck it in the bin,” May said, before later adding: “Might have to switch my allegiance”.
May went on to apologise for his comments, and Daley was certain his remorse was genuine, opening the door for an Origin debut in the future.
“Most definitely, yeah. I’d never met Terrell before but I found him to be a really good fella. Had a ‘cuppa’ with him, won’t go into detail about what we spoke about,” Daley said.
“But he was good as gold. Good to clear the air, no hard feelings from my end, no hard feelings from his end.
“But he knows he just has to keep playing well and his opportunity will come at some point.”
