‘Cowards’: Maroons hang captain Daly Cherry-Evans out to dry at Suncorp

Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was on uncomfortable ground when boos rained down from the Maroons Suncorp Stadium fortress.

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been booed at Suncorp Stadium after the Maroons lost the State of Origin decider and the series to NSW in a 14-4 boilover on Wednesday night.

The result was the first time since 2005 and third time in Origin history that the Blues have claimed a series win in Queensland after dropping game one.

And it made for some scenes rarely seen in the State Vs State showdown.

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As time ran out on a Queensland comeback, the “NSW” chant overpowered the Maroons as the fans began to head for the exit.

By the end of the game, the crowd was mostly empty seats, as well as NSW fans who revelled in the victory almost two decades in the making.

So when Cherry-Evans got to the microphone, he received a reception usually reserved for the Queensland skipper at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Cherry-Evans congratulated the Blues and thanked the fans for turning up to the series, before paying tribute to his side.

“It’s not our year guys but that’s footy,” Cherry-Evans said. “We’ll be back again so take it all in.”

Cherry-Evans isn't used to that kind of reception at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: Channel 9

It was a sight that left a bad taste in Queenslanders’ mouths and will no doubt be something the Maroons use next year in their bid to reclaim the Origin Shield.

One fan wrote: “Still mopping up the mess listening to DCE getting booed in QLD made xx”.

Another commented: “DCE getting booed at Suncorp in a Maroon jersey. I thought Qlders got #Origin they all left with 10 to go.”

A third tweeted: “DCE getting booed at Suncorp in a losing series may very well be peak Origin.”

Another commented: “DCE booed at Suncorp? Rough.”

A fifth added: “DCE getting loudly booed at Suncorp stadium. Never thought I’d hear it. QLD crowd should’ve stuck around to support their team. Cowards for bailing.”

Another tweeted: “DCE getting booed in QLD stadium — this night just gets better.”

And another pointed out: “Not the first time DCE has been booed at Suncorp.”

It was another tough moment of a tough night for the Maroons, as the match was an instant classic.

But for the first time in what feels like a long time, the Maroons were the first to blink in a bitter arm-wrestle of a match, conceding two tries in three minutes — the only four-pointers of the night.

It’s ground the Maroons aren’t used to treading. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Speaking in the press conference after the match, coach Billy Slater said: “I feel like the team was defeated, it certainly didn’t feel like a loss.

“I was disappointed after Melbourne but I don’t feel disappointed right now. I feel immensely proud of this playing group and what they had to endure out there. They kept turning up and we just couldn’t get it done tonight.”

Slater said “things didn’t go out way” with the Blues ending up having 57 per cent of possession, with Queensland making 107 more tackles for the match.

“I don’t think we could have given any more effort,” Cherry-Evans agreed.

“The effort was there all night. The effort was really clear to see in the first half. We did our best tonight and it wasn’t good enough. Right now that’s hard to understand because you give everything but there has to be a loser and unfortunately that’s us this year.”

Asked about the first-half brawl that boiled over, Cherry-Evans said it’d been “a theme of the series”.

“I’m just really proud of the way that no one hesitated to get in there,” Cherry-Evans continued.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot of love and support from my teammates.”

Originally published as ‘Cowards’: Maroons hang captain Daly Cherry-Evans out to dry at Suncorp