Staggering ‘rat’ claim made over DCE’s Queensland Game 2 axing

Brandon Smith has claimed a “rat” in the Queensland ranks leaked the news of captain Daly Cherry-Evans’ axing for Game 2.

Brandon Smith has claimed a “rat” in the Queensland ranks leaked the news of captain Daly Cherry-Evans’ axing from the Maroons team for Game 2.

News Corp reporter Brent Read broke the news Cherry-Evans would be dumped over a week before the Maroons’ team was announced.

James Graham was surprised that Read reported the story that far in advance of the team being named.

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“What’s noticeable about this is pretty much straight after Origin 1 it was being widely reported that DCE was gone,” Graham said on his podcast, The Bye Round.

“Brent Read was adamant that he was gone. The fact that Brent Read was reporting it … he’s got that information from someone that’s very heavily connected to Queensland.

Daly Cherry-Evans has been dumped as Queensland captain. Picture NRL photos

“The fact this was coming out of Queensland camp raises alarm bells. It’s un-Queensland-like.”

Smith, who appears on the podcast with Graham, went a step further.

“There’s a rat in the house, you reckon?” Smith said. “It’s sad but it is what it is. What can you do about it?

“There is a rat.”

Cherry-Evans will be replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback for Game 2 in Perth on Wednesday night, with Cameron Munster taking over the captaincy.

Brandon Smith didn’t like the circumstances of Cherry-Evans’ sacking. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Elsewhere, Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz has been called into Blues camp after Brian To’o tweaked his hamstring at training. To’o is still expected to play in Game 2 in Perth next Wednesday night.

Kiraz enjoyed a breakout season last year and was on the cusp of being picked in the Game 1 squad before a calf injury struck.

The 23-year-old is the fifth Bulldogs player called into Origin camp and will join Stephen Crichton, Max King and Matt Burton, while Kurt Mann is set to make his Maroons debut.

Panthers star To’o has endured two hamstring injuries this year and pulled up sore after beating the Wests Tigers on Sunday.

Blues medical staff are confident him missing Thursday’s opposed session is precautionary and that he will fly with the team on Sunday and run out next week.

Originally published as Staggering ‘rat’ claim made over DCE’s Queensland Game 2 axing