State of Origin: Andrew Johns accuses Daly Cherry-Evans of ‘cheap shot’ in Game I, issues warning to Maroons over Latrell Mitchell
NSW legend Andrew Johns has warned the Maroons that recalled superstar Latrell Mitchell is “inside their heads” and revealed where Queensland will be exposed in game two.
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NSW legend Andrew Johns has accused Daly Cherry-Evans of an Origin I “cheap shot” and warned Latrell Mitchell will torment the Maroons skipper, telling ‘DCE’: “Good luck tackling Latrell”.
Cherry-Evans ripped NSW apart in Game One with arguably the greatest performance of his Maroons career and is primed to inflict more pain on the Blues in Origin II at the MCG on Wednesday night.
But NRL Immortal Johns has turned up the heat on the in-form Cherry-Evans, claiming the returning Mitchell is inside Queensland’s “heads” and urged him to make a beeline for the Maroons No.7.
Cherry-Evans produced a man-of-the-match display in Origin I, but Johns was more concerned by a moment where the Maroons halfback roughed-up NSW back-rower Angus Crichton in Queensland’s 38-10 rout.
“I actually saw a clip of a bit of cheap shot from Daly,” said Johns, the Channel 9 expert who played 23 Origin matches for the Blues.
“He got Angus on the ground, so Angus don’t cop that mate (in Origin II).”
Johns has great admiration for Cherry-Evans’ longevity and says the 35-year-old is playing as well as he ever has after the Queensland halfback engineered NSW’s downfall at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
But ‘Joey’ believes the 105kg Mitchell can be Cherry-Evans’ kryptonite before 90,000 fans at the MCG.
NSW superstar Mitchell tore Queensland to shreds in their thumping 2021 series victory and Johns, one of the greatest ever halfbacks, urged the giant left centre to target Cherry-Evans and Valentine Holmes.
Holmes and Cherry-Evans defend on Queensland’s right side – directly opposite Mitchell.
Queensland will not have forgotten Mitchell’s last tenure in sky-blue three years ago and Johns believes Latrell has a psychological hold over Cherry-Evans’ Maroons.
“Daly is on top of his game, but good luck tackling Latrell,” Johns said.
“Valentine Holmes is already talking it up saying he will get in Latrell’s face so he is in their heads.
“The right side of Queensland is a target. The gap between DCE and Holmes, that space between the halfback and centre, that’s where NSW will apply pressure with Angus, Latrell, Dylan Edwards and Jarome (Luai) floating around.
“That will be the spot they target, especially with Latrell.
“He is NSW’s X-factor.
“Latrell is inside their heads, it is good.”
Cherry-Evans has sombre memories of the MCG. He was Queensland’s halfback in their 26-18 loss in 2015 and such was the ferocity of criticism over his performance, Cherry-Evans was dropped, triggering a three-year exile from the Maroons team.
But since his recall, Cherry-Evans has proven his bona fides not only as an Origin playmaker, but a leader.
If the Maroons triumph on Wednesday night, it will be Cherry-Evans’ fourth series win as skipper and cement him as one of Queensland’s greatest captains alongside Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis and Cameron Smith.
Cherry-Evans was outstanding in Origin I but says he won’t be complacent as Queensland look to bury the Blues in straight sets.
“It was definitely a performance I was super proud of,” he said of his Game One masterclass.
“Any time you win Game One it’s great, but it’s important not to get too far ahead of yourself.
“I’m not a person that likes to sit around in that comfortable state, especially knowing what is ahead for the series.
“As proud as I was, it is something I will look back on more when I retire, but after that night was done, it was a next-job mentality really for Game Two.”
Cherry-Evans says he isn’t bothered by his last outing at the MCG at a venue where the Maroons have lost four of five Origin games and are mired in a 29-year drought.
“I played there in 2015,” he said.
“I didn’t know our record there until someone told me the other day.
“We don’t play there consistently enough to concern ourselves with any hoodoo.
“Every year is different, every series is different. The players change, the coaches change and it’s the same in this regard.
“It’s all different again, there’s no reason to think about hoodoos, we’re going down with a job to do and that’s our mindset.
“I’m really confident.”
Scrumbase partner Tom Dearden scoffed at suggestions a Mitchell-inspired Blues could expose Cherry-Evans at the MCG.
“The way he prepares, he is ageing like a fine wine,” Dearden said.
“Daly is only getting better, and the way he gets ready for a game is so inspiring.
“He is a great mentor and a great leader and someone I look up to.”
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Originally published as State of Origin: Andrew Johns accuses Daly Cherry-Evans of ‘cheap shot’ in Game I, issues warning to Maroons over Latrell Mitchell
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