Origin Confidential: Axed Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans a surprise absentee from decider

Axed or injured Queensland players Kalyn Ponga, Beau Fermor and Moeaki Fotuaika were on hand to witness Queensland’s miracle - but there was a notable absentee.

Axed or injured Queensland players Kalyn Ponga, Beau Fermor and Moeaki Fotuaika were among those on hand to help the Maroons celebrate a famous win at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

There was no sign, however, of former Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Cherry-Evans, who was dropped after Origin I, was at a function for his club side Manly on Monday night.

However, he was nowhere to be seen as the Maroons wrapped up the series on enemy territory. Cherry-Evans played 26 games for Queensland - the vast majority of them as captain - before he was shown the door by coach Billy Slater.

Ponga, Fermor and Fotuaika all played their part in the Maroons’ series win. Ponga played the opening two games before succumbing to injury, Fotuaika did the same before being dropped and Fermor took part in Origin I before he too was axed.

Daly Cherry-Evans was a notable absentee from Accor Stadium. Picture: NRL photos

Origin Confidential reached out to Cherry-Evans via text message but did not get a response.

For the Blues, injured half Mitch Moses took his seat in the coaches box alongside Laurie Daley. The only other player to feature for NSW series who did not play on Wednesday night was Mitch Barnett. The Warriors forward was invited and keen to get to the game but was told it was best he did not fly given his recent knee operation.

AWKWARD ENCOUNTER AVOIDED

An awkward encounter between Queensland coach and former NSW star Aaron Woods was avoided at Accor Stadium.

Woods - who was on hand to commentate for Triple M - and Slater were due to cross paths for the first time since their public slanging match in the lead-up to Origin II.

However the Blues’ switched coaches boxes, sitting them alongside the Triple M commentary team with Queensland on the other 40 metre line.

SHOOSH

Which radio networks had a heated exchange on the sideline regarding seat placements?

STORM TO RAMP UP GRANT TALKS

Melbourne are set to ramp up contract talks with captain Harry Grant now that the State of Origin series is over.

Grant, who is off contract at the end of next season, is a priority signing for the Storm as they look to prevent him hitting their skipper hitting the market on November 1.

Melbourne are set to ramp up Harry Grant contract talks. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Melbourne are juggling plenty of balls but Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes are at the front of their minds as they look to ward off the threat of expansion sides Perth and PNG.

Grant is expected to command upwards of $1 million a season, although he could get significantly more than that on the open market.

Origin confidential understands that he is keen to stay in Melbourne and the Storm are keen to resolve his future so they can move onto some of their other targets.

TRAINER TROUBLES

The players weren’t the only NSW people to struggle with the Blues’ sanctioned for a trainer spending too long on the field in the opening half.

Former NSW captain Boyd Cordner – the yellow shirt trainer – was disciplined for spending too long out in the action. NSW were docked a trainer card by the ground manager because of the indiscretion. The trainer is allowed three appearances per half.

HIGHLIGHT

Valentine Holmes set the tone for the match with a first half bell-ringer on NSW forward Angus Crichton. There was plenty to like about Queensland’s opening 40 minutes.

LOWLIGHT

Everything about the Blues’ first half. Embarrassing and inept in a decider on their home ground. Their lack of urgency in the second half was also poor given the game was on the line. A good kick with 15 minutes left in the game found the in-goal but the Maroons were able to race free after a terrible chase.

Harry Grant scores Queensland's third

STIGMA REMAINS

The stigma around Nathan Cleary and Origin deciders remains. The walk-up NRL hall of famer is yet to conquer his final mountain – walking away a winner in an Origin decider.

There is little doubt that Cleary will go down as an all-time great even if he retired today. Four premierships, Origin series and World Cup wins make him one of the best to ever strap on a boot.

But his inability to win an Origin series with the series on the line in game three will continue to haunt him until he gets the job done.

Cleary knows it too. In the lead-up to the game he hinted at his game three record in a match which he became the most capped NSW halfback going past Andrew Johns and Mitchell Pearce.

“It’s been something I have been longing for, for a while,” he told NRL 360. “I have been lucky enough to win series, but haven’t quite yet jumped the hurdle of winning a decider.”

The hurdle is now looking like a mountain.

Nathan Cleary couldn’t get the Blues over the line. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Wednesday night was set up beautifully for him. A home series decider against a weaker Queensland team on paper. But Cleary now sits at 0-3 when it comes to owning Origin. Until he does he will sit in the shadows of Immortal Johns and the likes of fellow NSW halves Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley.

It will be a record which is talked about next year if Origin III turns into a decider. Cleary remains a walk-up start if fit for NSW but his position will come under further scrutiny if he can’t deliver again.

The Blues’ attack looked lost at times. It is hard to play as a half on the back foot but the constant turning the ball under to a player made it look like they were bereft of options. His kicking game was poor. And he wasn’t alone but as the game’s best player he needed to do more.

TENSION OFF THE FIELD

The tension wasn’t only on the field at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night. Origin confidential can reveal that South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly, who has been waging war over the club’s bid to move back to Allianz Stadium, was a guest of Venues NSW at the final game of the State of Origin series.

Solly has been the chief architect of Souths bid to return to their spiritual home, having taken the fight to the state government and premier Chris Minns. He recently took the extraordinary step of requesting access to all communications from Venues NSW in relation to South Sydney’s bid to return to Allianz.

That didn’t stop Venues NSW inviting Solly into their box for Wednesday night’s Origin decider at a sold-out Accor Stadium.

Solly accepted the request. No doubt, there were some tense moments as Solly crossed paths with some of the officials who are blocking his club’s attempt to return to Allianz Stadium.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly at Accor Stadium. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

SPOTTED

AFL great Buddy Franklin, Olympic heroes Jess and Noemie Fox along with some of Australia’s best combat sport stars including Alex Volkanovski and Jai Opetaia.

SPOTTED

Former NSW captain James Tedesco up and about early on Origin morning having coffee at Harris Farm in Boronia Park.

SPOTTED

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns and Sports Minister Steve Kamper.

HANNAY’S NRL DREAM

Queensland coach Billy Slater may be forced to revamp his support staff with Josh Hannay on the brink of getting a long-awaited crack in the NRL.

Hannay has emerged as the hottest commodity in the coaching ranks after narrowly missing out on the Parramatta job to Jason Ryles last year.

The Queensland assistant coach has been the cornerstone of Slater’s support staff in recent seasons and has emerged as the likely front-runner at the Titans once they formally part ways with coach Des Hasler at the end of the season.

Hannay has had two night watchman-type stints in charge as a caretaker coach of North Queensland and Cronulla in recent years. He has spent a long time as an assistant coach at both clubs.

Josh Hannay just missed out on the Parramatta job. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Titans’ decision could force the hand of other clubs too. Hannay’s former club North Queensland would have obvious appeal with Todd Payten walking a tight rope given the Cowboys’ run of inconsistent form.

Hannay is also close to Newcastle boss Peter Parr from their time together at the Cowboys although it is understood there is no plan to replace coach Adam O’Brien, who has made the finals in four of the past five seasons.

It seems likely though that Slater will be on the look-out for a new assistant coach. Slater has already revamped his staff once, having been forced to replace Cameron Smith after his long-time teammate stood down to spend more time with his family.

The late Carl Webb (L) and Josh Hannay with the 2006 shield.

As for the Blues? Well you don’t have to look too far into their coaching staff to see a couple of NRL head coaches in waiting. Matt King was on the verge of becoming Mal Meninga’s right hand man at Perth before he stepped out of the race but many good judges have earmarked him as a long-term NRL coach, while Dean Young also wants an opportunity and he too went close to coaching Parramatta last year.

Young has ties with the Cowboys after having a stint coaching at the club before returning to the Dragons.

Originally published as Origin Confidential: Axed Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans a surprise absentee from decider