Darren Lockyer: Why Queensland Maroons axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans

Maroons coach Billy Slater has failed to truly explain the reasons for pulling the trigger on Daly Cherry-Evans. Queensland selector Darren Lockyer finally sheds light on why the captain was axed.

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer has lifted the lid on the real reason for Daly Cherry-Evans’ sacking, saying the champion skipper was not “aggressive” enough in leading the Maroons’ spluttering attack.

Lockyer’s revelation came as former NSW prop Aaron Woods launched a stunning attack on Maroons coach Billy Slater, labelling the axing of Cherry-Evans as “p*** poor form”.

Lockyer said Queensland hierarchy’s decision to drop Cherry-Evans after the 18-6 loss in Origin I was an agonising call but one that needed to be made to get the Maroons offence firing in Game Two next Wednesday night.

Maroons coach Billy Slater has failed to truly explain the reasons for pulling the trigger on Cherry-Evans, instead claiming his successor Tom Dearden is the “right man” to call the shots for Queensland in Perth.

But Queensland playmaking legend Lockyer, a state selector since 2017, said the Maroons needed a more direct style after Cherry-Evans presided over one try in the past 160 minutes of Origin football.

“It’s disappointing for Daly,” said Channel 9 expert analyst Lockyer.

“It’s not an easy decision that’s been made, but it’s been made in the best interests of the team.

“Looking at Game One and even last year’s series, we probably aren’t asking enough questions of the defence.

Daly Cherry-Evans played his final State of Origin game on May 28. Picture: NRL photos

“Tom Dearden will be aggressive in defence but also be aggressive with the football.

“That’s what Billy is looking for - a guy who when they have the footy in their hand wants to run the ball and ask questions of the defence.”

New Maroons skipper Cameron Munster told this masthead he was still coming to terms with losing his captain and long-time scrumbase partner-in-crime.

“I spoke to ‘Chez’ a couple of days ago,” he said.

“I don’t really need to go into a whole heap of detail on what I said to him but he’s obviously been a great captain for the state for a long time.

“I know it’s disappointing for him and his family.

“He hasn’t got the opportunity to right the wrongs for Game One but I do and hopefully I can go out there and make him proud.”

Slater’s decision to drop Cherry-Evans is the first time Queensland have dropped their captain mid-series since Trevor Gillmeister’s axing in 1996 and Lockyer said he felt for the three-time series-winning skipper.

Cherry-Evans has chalked up a remarkable 26 Origin appearance, including 20 consecutively at halfback since his recall in 2018 after a three-year exile.

“It’s never easy when you have to drop a player and it hasn’t been done for 30 years mid-series,” Lockyer said.

“At this point in time we felt the team needed to go in a different direction to get an outcome or a result that we need right now.

“From my perspective I would like to focus on the good things Daly did for Queensland.

“In his early days, there was talk that Daly potentially didn’t belong in that environment, but he has proven that the other way.

“He has a great record and has played at a high level for a long time and that’s what I like to take out of this ... what Daly did for Queensland.”

Slater’s decision had shockwaves across the border with former Blues bookend Woods saying the Maroons coach should be sacked if the Maroons crash to back-to-back series defeats this season.

Darren Lockyer has revealed why Daly Cherry-Evans was axed.

“To me that’s p**s poor form from Billy Slater,” Woods told Triple M.

“After Game One in your press conference you said it wasn’t about the personnel, you said you didn’t play too well.

“You’ve come out and axed your captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

“You’ve said it wasn’t a scapegoat, but mate it’s a scapegoat.

“Billy, you’ve just turned on your skipper.

“If you lose this second series, does that mean you’re going to get sacked? Because Kevvie Walters got sacked after two series losses and he only coached four.”

Originally published as Darren Lockyer: Why Queensland Maroons axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans