Queensland Maroons Game II team: Billy Slater reveals ‘tough’ phone call to Daly Cherry-Evans

Queensland coach Billy Slater has explained the reasoning behind the most controversial selection call in 29 years, denying Daly Cherry-Evans was made the scapegoat for the Game I disaster.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has hit out at suggestions Daly Cherry-Evans was a scapegoat for their Game One collapse as he backed new halfback Tom Dearden to lead a Maroons fightback in Origin II.

Slater has made Queensland’s most controversial selection call in 30 years by axing his skipper Cherry-Evans and handing the No.7 jumper to Dearden for the return bout in Perth on Wednesday week.

Not since 1996, when Trevor Gillmeister was sacked as captain and replaced by Allan Langer, have the Maroons made such a brutal call on their skipper midway through an Origin campaign.

There was a view Cherry-Evans deserved a stay of execution given his magnificent 26-game contribution and the fact the champion halfback played behind a badly beaten Maroons pack in their 18-6 loss in Game One.

But Slater is adamant Queensland needed a scrumbase shake-up and he is confident the new halves alliance of Dearden and Cameron Munster can save the series at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

At 36 years of age, Cherry-Evans’ outstanding Origin career is effectively over, barring an injury crisis, but Slater insists his halfback general was not a scapegoat for Queensland’s third consecutive loss.

“It’s not the case,” Slater said.

“It’s just a case of the best person for the position.

“I’m sure people will have their opinion.

“At the end of the day, when you’re in this position to make decisions, you have to think what’s best for the footy team.

“We just feel Tom is the right person for the No.7 jersey right now.”

Cherry-Evans has paid the ultimate price for a misfiring Maroons attack that has scored just one try in 160 minutes of Origin football.

Dearden has impressed in his five Origin matches and Slater noted the Cowboys playmaker’s contribution off the bench in the series opener a fortnight ago, lifting the Maroons in the final quarter with his energy and competitive fire.

The Maroons want a more direct running threat in Origin II and NRL statistics this year show Dearden is outperforming Cherry-Evans in key attacking metrics.

Billy Slater addresses Daly Cherry-Evans axing. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Both have played 12 NRL games this season. Dearden has more try assists than Cherry-Evans (11 to nine), more line-break assists (16 to five), more tries (four to three) and more running metres (106m to 66m).

The one concern is whether Dearden has the long-range kicking game to put the boot into the Blues, but Slater is confident the 24-year-old can straighten Queensland’s attack and unlock their speed out wide.

“We certainly want to play to our players’ strengths,” Slater said when asked about Dearden’s direct style.

“You earn every opportunity to play in this jersey and we just feel that Tom Dearden has earnt the opportunity to play in the No.7 jersey.

“We feel it’s the right thing for the footy team.”

Dearden has played four of his five Origin games filling in for Munster at second receiver, but he has never been Queensland’s chief shot caller.

Asked if he is capable of running the Maroons’ offence, Slater said: “He’ll get a bit of help.

“There’s some good players in and around him, so we just want Tom Dearden to do his job and be the best version of Tommy Dearden that he can be.

“He’ll get a bit of support around him.”

Slater said he took no joy in breaking Cherry-Evans’ remarkable 19-game streak as Queensland captain.

“It’s not an easy job,” he said.

“I had a phone call with him (on Sunday).

“Obviously Daly wanted to play and he was disappointed that he wasn’t going to get the opportunity but he took the news with great character and great respect.

“We had a good conversation. We’ve got a great relationship.

“You won’t hear a negative word from me about Daly Cherry-Evans. What he’s given this jersey and what he’s done for this footy team in this group, that will be with all Queenslanders and with Daly for the rest of his life.

“No-one can take that away from him.”

Slater will formalise Cherry-Evans’ captaincy successor over the next 24 hours with Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Munster the leading candidates.

“We’ll make everyone aware of who the captain is (on Tuesday),” the Maroons mentor said.

“We’ve got quite a few club captains and quite a few leaders within the footy team.

“He (Munster) takes on a fair bit of responsibility anyway. He’s not a club captain, but he’s certainly a leader within his footy team in Melbourne and he’s a great leader for his footy team right here in Queensland.

“Leadership will be dispersed, it always is in this footy team, even back when I was playing for Queensland.

“Whoever tosses the coin will get a lot of support.”

Originally published as Queensland Maroons Game II team: Billy Slater reveals ‘tough’ phone call to Daly Cherry-Evans