Daly Cherry-Evans’ axing exposes Queensland as State of Origin frauds | comment

There’s no doubt about it - Daly Cherry-Evans was made the scapegoat by a Maroons coach gripped by fear and uncertainty.

Queensland’s fabled yet fabricated ‘pick-and-stick’ motto has finally been exposed as a fraud and replaced by the inevitable truth – it’s actually pick-and-flick.

Daly Cherry-Evans’ demise as Queensland’s halfback, skipper and mentor is shabby, shambolic and smacks of disloyalty.

He is a genuine Maroons legend who’s been flicked to the kerb after just one loss this series by a desperate coach gripped by fear and uncertainty.

This decision surely ends Queensland’s holier-than-thou moral superiority. It’s easy to be smug when you’re winning.

‘Pick-and-stick’ has been a Cane Toad myth for 45 years, perpetrated by a sanctimonious state who have been sadly misled to think they’re superior at State of Origin.

Cherry-Evans has been made a scapegoat by coach Billy Slater despite a marshmallow performance in Origin I from the Maroons forwards.

According to Code Sports stats, starting prop Mo Fotuaika ran for just 39 metres through four hits-ups at Suncorp Stadium. He also conceded a penalty, made an error and missed four tackles.

Daly Cherry-Evans’ State of Origin career is all but over. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Yet Fotuaika is retained and Slater axes the poor halfback, whose lean 84kg frame was physically dominated by a surging NSW pack.

Tough as he is, I can’t see Cherry-Evans’ replacement, Tom Dearden, stemming the Blues midfield rampage. Then what? Does Dearden get dumped for Sydney?

Manly CEO Tony Mestrov didn’t want to enter interstate politics but did say: “Daly has been a loyal servant to Queensland so we’re disappointed that he didn’t complete the series.”

Not since Maroons enforcer Trevor Gillmeister in 1996 has a captain been axed after one game of a series. It shows the cloudy headspace Slater finds himself in after three successive losses.

Slater had two clear choices after Origin I – publicly display the much-hyped Queensland patriotism or panic.

The Maroons’ nervousness is unmistakable.

Moments before Cherry-Evans was cut, former NSW halfback Ricky Stuart said: “Queensland have got this culture of ‘pick-and-stick’. They’ve got this culture that they talk about in regards to, you know, hanging tough in tough times.

“So I think that Cherry-Evans will keep his position unless they’re going to break their culture (otherwise) they’re going to break their attitude in regards to what they’ve been promoting for so many years.”

Moeaki Fotuaika was reduced to a speed bump by the Blues in Game I. Picture: Grant Trouville / NRL Imagery

NSW have stuck with the same side for Perth. It’s easy being staunch when you’re winning.

Remember all the unwanted counselling Queensland offered to NSW during the Maroons’ eight-straight victories?

Well Queensland, life ain’t so grand when you’re losing – as Cherry-Evans can attest.

Originally published as Daly Cherry-Evans’ axing exposes Queensland as State of Origin frauds | comment