New Maroons blood pumps strongly as Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh Papalii win on Origin debuts

ORIGIN rookies Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh Papalii were labelled the Maroons new blood and didn't let Queensland down on their Origin debuts.

IT WAS a bold selection gamble that divided Queensland fans, but last night's performance proved that behind this brilliant Maroons team are men who know how to produce the best out of them.

Origin rookies Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh Papalii were labelled the Maroons new blood and judging from their Game Two performance, the duo will course through this team's veins for years to come.

Backrower Papalii and playmaker Cherry-Evans were the revitalisation Queensland needed, as Suncorp Stadium witnessed a brilliant 26-6 win.

Neither player won the game for their state, but their enthusiasm clearly rippled through the squad who started the game on fire, owning 60 per cent of possession in the opening 20 minutes.

In the lead-up to last night's must-win game, Maroons coach Mal Meninga repeatedly noted Cherry-Evans' confidence meant there was little risk in blooding the Manly Sea Eagles half.

His first touch of the ball showed how confident he was.

He sent a spiralling long ball past two Maroons players to create space for Greg Inglis who made a 40m break downfield. Injecting the rookies was a bold call by coach Mal Meninga and chairman of selectors Des Morris. Dumping streak stalwarts David Shillington and Ashley Harrison certainly went against the Maroons pick-and-stick mentality.

Blues coach Laurie Daley even said it was a call he would not make.

Meninga's and Morris' call proved right while Carney may yet receive an apologetic phone call from Daley this week.

Papalii entered the fray in the 51st minute and made some bruising runs.

If Papalii's mother Luama had tears in her eyes when told her son was a Maroon, last night she probably went through four boxes of tissues.

Papalii dedicated his debut game to Alex Elisala, a promising Cowboys rake who tragically took his own life earlier this year.

The incident rocked Papalii, who grew up with Elisala in Logan before moving south to take up a contract with the Canberra Raiders.

Papalii would have made his good mate proud, running for 42m in five runs.

Surprisingly, Cherry-Evans, 24, saw action at the 30-minute mark, replacing Corey Parker.

Playing lock at just 85kg, he took the ball off the first tackle like a forward and even better ... he thrived.

He ended the game with 23 tackles and most importantly zero mistakes.