State of Origin: Wally Lewis challenges Daly Cherry-Evans to step up for Maroons in decider
Queensland’s greatest Origin captain Wally Lewis has urged Daly Cherry-Evans to step up and produce a “captain’s knock” to inspire the Maroons to an Origin three-peat.
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Queensland’s greatest Origin captain Wally Lewis has challenged Daly Cherry-Evans to step up and produce a skipper’s knock to inspire another Maroons fairytale in the Suncorp decider.
‘The King’ has spoken and decreed the Maroons’ hopes of an Origin three-peat hinge on Cherry-Evans producing the greatest game of his Queensland career to bury the Blues on Wednesday night.
NSW rival Mitchell Moses has gained a psychological edge over Cherry-Evans.
The Blues halfback has won consecutive games against ‘DCE’ in the past two series, including his man-of-the-match performance in NSW’s 38-18 massacre of the Maroons at the MCG to square the series in Origin II.
Now Moses is hellbent on smashing NSW’s 19-year hoodoo at Suncorp Stadium and Lewis, Queensland’s most successful captain in Origin history with seven series wins, says it’s time for a Cherry-Evans masterclass.
“DCE needs to produce a captain’s knock,” said Channel 9 expert analyst Lewis, ‘The Emperor of Lang Park’ who played 34 Origin games for Queensland.
“When you are in the position as captain and it’s a series-deciding game, you take upon yourself a bit of extra responsibility to realise you aren’t just inspiring yourself, you are inspiring those around you.
“Daly has to inspire the players and keep them all focused to play a bit better.
“He has this one game to put into play which is extremely important (to retain the Origin shield).
“There is a real challenge in front of DCE and I’m sure he will respond.”
Age has not wearied Cherry-Evans.
The 35-year-old is playing some of the finest football of his career and was at his talismanic best in the series opener, superbly orchestrating Queensland’s 38-10 belting of the Blues at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
But the Moses masterclass at the MCG has turned up the heat on Cherry-Evans to respond and pilot the Maroons to a hat-trick of Origin titles.
It is a measure of Cherry-Evans’ longevity that he will play his 25th Origin game on Wednesday, surpassing Gary Larson and Matt Sing (24), equalling legendary lock Bob Lindner (25) and poised to overtake Dale Shearer (26).
As captain, Cherry-Evans is already one of Queensland’s greats. Victory in the decider will give the Manly maestro a fourth series win as skipper, putting him firmly alongside Lewis (seven), Darren Lockyer (six) and Cameron Smith (six) as Queensland’s most inspirational leaders.
Scrumbase partner Tom Dearden backed Cherry-Evans to hit back after the Maroons were blown off the park at the MCG.
“The way Daly is playing, he could go on forever. He possibly could go (until 40),” Dearden said.
“It gives us a lot of confidence having Daly there.
“One of the strengths of his game is the way he gets our team around the park and when you have him talking, and directing the ship, it makes our jobs easier.”
Cherry-Evans has the hot hand in Suncorp deciders – he has won the past two, including his maiden series win as skipper in 2020 – but is he wary of the Moses threat.
“He has come onto the Origin scene in the last couple of seasons,” Cherry-Evans said.
“He is someone they feel is the best option behind Nathan Cleary (injured NSW half) and that’s not a bad place to be because Nathan is a great player.
“When you get your chance, you have to maximise it.
“I’m not a person that likes to sit around in that comfortable state. They played like the series was on the line (in Game Two) and we didn’t. Simple as that. That’s the bottom line.
“We will learn a lot from that.”
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