North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans won’t receive any favourable treatment despite being in Queensland’s rugby league heartland when the Sea Eagles take on the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Dearden together as the Queensland Origin team hold a training session and fan day at Toowoomba ahead of game 2 in Melbourne. Pics Adam Head

Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans won’t receive any favourable treatment despite being in Queensland’s rugby league heartland when the Sea Eagles take on the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night.

The 35-year-old Manly skipper continues to ignore father time and prove week in, week out, that he is one of the best halfbacks to play the game this millennium.

Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden – who is 12 years younger than his opposing half – got a great look at Cherry-Evans during State of Origin camp.

Dearden said the veteran playmaker didn’t have any major chinks in his armour.

“I don’t think he has too many weaknesses. We’ve probably got to try and target him a little bit and send a bit of traffic his way and hopefully that can take away a bit of his impact on the game,” Dearden said.

“He’s got a great kicking game and I think our back three and back five need to make sure that they’re in position and take away his momentum with his kicking game.”

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans (R) embraces teammate Tom Dearden as they celebrate their victory in the State of Origin rugby league match between Queensland and New South Wales in Brisbane on July 13, 2022. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP) / -

While Cherry-Evans will garner plenty of attention during the game, Cowboys coach Todd Payten was more concerned about the impact Tom Trbojevic would make in his return from hamstring injury.

Trbojevic was named in the centres but there on Friday there was still speculation about which edge he would play on – if he even does line up at centre.

Payten said he was preparing for a Friday morning recon mission after the Sea Eagles made the mistake of booking their training at the same facility the Cowboys were running a player signing session, but ultimately it wouldn’t affect the way North Queensland prepares.

“Their shapes and plays will be the same. Once I finish this interview I’m about to go out and check them out – they’re training across the road at the sports reserve so I’ll get a bit of an insight before we kick off tomorrow,” Payten said.

“I think Tom (Trbojevic) coming back adds a fair bit of confidence to them, he’s playing in the centres but he’ll have that edge better organised in attack and he’ll give the guys around him a bit more confidence.

“He’s a game-breaker and then you’ve got Haumole Olakau’atu on the other edge, Luke Brooks has been playing some good footy, Jake Trbojevic is an Origin captain, so they’re fast, skilful and athletic.”

North Queensland will welcome back its six State of Origin representatives after an extended break.

When the stellar sextet returned from Origin I, the Cowboys were blown off the park by the Warriors 42-12 with Payten criticising his non-Origin players for coasting.

He said enthusiasm levels were high as the squad worked hard to ensure that wouldn’t happen again.

“Ball movement has probably gone up a gear with them back in the team so I’ve just tried to temper that a little bit at training,” Payten said.

“That just means everyone’s super excited. I’ve spoken to some other players around those Origin guys that it’s not (about) taking the foot off the gas, it’s actually dragging those guys that are coming into our squad along with them.”

The Cowboys host Manly on Saturday night, kick-off is at 7.35pm.

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles at Queensland Country Bank Stadium