State of Origin: Queensland still looking for answers to stop NSW star Tom Trbojevic

They play together at Manly, so Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans should have some idea how to stop NSW star Tom Trbojevic.

Tom Trbojevic starred for NSW in the State of Origin opener. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has made the stunning admission that “we don’t have the answers yet” to stopping NSW centres Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic in Brisbane.

The Queensland halfback does believe the inner sanctum brains trust will come up with solutions once they get their heads together in camp on the Gold Coast ahead of Game 2 of the State of Origin series, but if the Mitchell/Trbojevic combo fires like it did in NSW’s 50-6 win in Game 1, then the series result will be done and dusted by 10pm on Sunday night in Brisbane.

Mitchell and Trbojevic, both fullbacks for their club teams, wound back the clock in Townsville to when centres played together on the same side of the field.

Their fruitful liaison was highlighted when Trbojevic kicked short for Mitchell to score. Soon afterwards Mitchell put Turbo Tom in under the sticks.

Trbojevic inspired Manly to a 56-24 win over the Titans and afterwards said that he and Mitchell had gone “a bit rogue” for the Blues with their positioning.

Cherry-Evans was quizzical when asked how the Maroons would nullify his clubmate and Mitchell on Sunday night.

“How do you stop them? We don’t have the answers yet do we but I believe we will when we get into camp,” Cherry-Evans said.

“Look, I am not taking anything away from them. They played outstanding, but we need to be better in certain areas to limit where they get the ball and how they get the ball.

I don’t care who’s leading the DALLY M,GOLDEN BOOT or RLPA PLAYERS PLAYER awards,TOM TRBOJEVIC is the best player in the world atm,give every single individual accolade there is possible in rugby league to him immediately. I’ve never seen dominance like this ever. @MasonsTake

— Willie Mason WMM 💯🇦🇺🇹🇴 (@mase21) June 20, 2021

Tom Trbojevic earned another man of the match as he continues to shoot up the @MetriconHomes Player of The Year leaderboard.#NRLpic.twitter.com/KIodQJccW9

— NRL Nation (@NRLNationRadio) June 21, 2021

“If we don’t fix it, the same thing will happen, but I feel like we have the right players in the team to change that and have a lot better mindset to stopping it.

“The way Tom plays, I think the whole game plan suits the players they have got in their side.

“They are playing ad lib and they are playing off the back of momentum. There are ways we can stop that momentum. There are things we didn’t do in the first game that I think will help us in the second game.”

Trbojevic said he would continue to roam around and link with Mitchell if the opportunity was right.

“When we are able to generate momentum you can kind of do what you please. Obviously you try and stay in structure, but I like to follow the footy and that is what we did,” Trbojevic said.

“We will see how the game plays out. It is not a plan to get me and Latrell together. It just kind of worked out that way, like let’s go a bit rogue. It worked last time but we were able to generate momentum. If we can do that who knows what could happen.”

Mitchell scored a double and Trbojevic notched a hat-trick in Townsville. Together they are potent and individually they are both electric.

Maroons coach Paul Green said there was a plan to stop Tommy Turbo in Game 1.

“We didn’t execute it very well,” Green said.

“There are a few things we can do to limit his opportunities but I don’t think you can completely stop a guy such as him. He is in terrific form.”

Originally published as State of Origin: Queensland still looking for answers to stop NSW star Tom Trbojevic