Daly Cherry-Evans dumped as Billy Slater overhauls Maroons for must-win State of Origin clash
Maroons coach Billy Slater has made the toughest call of his coaching career by dropping Daly Cherry-Evans and crowning Tom Dearden as the halfback to lead a new Queensland era. FULL MAROONS TEAM NEWS
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It’s official. Daly Cherry-Evans has been axed as Queensland’s halfback and captain for Origin II.
Maroons coach Billy Slater has made the toughest call of his coaching career by dropping Cherry-Evans and crowning Tom Dearden as the halfback to lead a new era in Game Two on Wednesday week.
Dearden will celebrate seventh heaven when he wears the famous Maroons No.7 jumper at Perth’s Optus Stadium, tasked with saving the series as NSW eye back-to-back crowns at Queensland’s house of horrors.
In the wake of Queensland’s 18-6 loss to NSW in Game One at Suncorp Stadium, there was a push for Cherry-Evans to be given a stay of execution given his outstanding service for the Maroons.
But Slater, under enormous pressure to level the series at 1-all and avoid a fourth consecutive defeat, has pulled the trigger on his skipper _ ostensibly ending Cherry-Evans’ glittering Origin career.
The Maroons will unveil a 20-man squad in alphabetical order on Monday and this masthead can reveal:
* Game One debutant Beau Fermor has joined Cherry-Evans as a casualty, paying the price for the Titans’ 44-14 loss to Brisbane on Saturday night;
* Kurt Capewell has won another recall and could start in the back row alongside Jeremiah Nanai;
* Bulldogs ironman Kurt Mann is set for his Origin debut filling in for Dearden on the bench;
* Controversial Broncos pivot Ezra Mam is in the squad - just three games back from his drug-driving scandal; and
* Storm centre Jack Howarth and Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh round out the 20-man squad.
The axing of Cherry-Evans leaves Slater and the Queensland Rugby League facing another significant decision — who to appoint as captain to spearhead a fresh chapter for the Maroons.
Slater has yet to anoint a skipper for the squad but leading contenders include Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Harry Grant and reformed Storm and Maroons champion Cameron Munster.
Cherry-Evans has been a magnificent servant for Queensland. He captained the Maroons for the past six years, skippered three series wins and chalked up 26 Origin games, including 20 consecutively at halfback since his career-defining recall in 2018.
The Manly champion became the oldest Origin player in Game One at 36 years and 97 days, but after suffering three straight losses as Queensland’s halfback general, Cherry-Evans has paid the ultimate price.
Now Slater has turned to the 24-year-old Dearden, who is 12 years younger than Cherry-Evans, to save the series for Queensland in the No.7 jumper made famous by Allan Langer, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten says his club co-captain Dearden will relish being Queensland’s chief commander.
“I know he is ready,” Payten said.
“Selfishly I want him to come off the bench, but if they (Queensland) want to win they should put him in the halves.”
Dearden has impressed in his five Origin games for Queensland and NRL halfback Immortal Andrew Johns backed the Cowboys rising star to spearhead a Maroons fightback.
“I just think Dearden is the halfback (for Origin II),” he said.
“It’s his time.”
Capewell will play his 12th Origin game after an outstanding revival at the in-form Warriors, while Cotter, Carrigan and Loiero are vying for the No.13 jumper.
Mam, Howarth and Horsburgh shape as Queensland’s extended squad members, but ‘Big Red’ could force his way into the 17 if Slater decides to drop Titans prop Mo Fotuaika, who started in Game One.
Slater’s SOS to Mr Reliable
Kurt Capewell is set to be parachuted into the Queensland State of Origin team – reward for his superb form for the high-flying Warriors.
In what would be his 12th Origin appearance for the Maroons, Capewell was told to stay behind in Australia by Queensland officials after delivering in the centres for the Warriors against the Sharks on Saturday night.
Capewell, 31, last played for Queensland in game three of last year’s series.
It’s believed Capewell is a strong chance to be used in the back row for Maroons coach Billy Slater in game two against the Blues.
Elsewhere, the Dragons heavy loss to the Dolphins hasn’t cost star centre Valentine Holmes, with the proud Queensland set to earn a recall for Origin II.
Holmes has survived a late push from Storm centre Jack Howarth to earn his 21st Origin appearance for Queensland.
Tino under Origin II injury cloud
The Maroons are facing an early injury scare with Queensland captaincy contender Tino Fa’asuamaleaui battling a sternum problem ahead of Origin II.
The Gold Coast Titans skipper picked up the painful injury in Saturday’s dreadful 44-14 loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Fa’asuamaleaui played 53 minutes against the Broncos, below his 64-minute average this year, and left the field with seven minutes to go.
He was the only Titans forward to run for 100m (106m) and made 21 tackles in the disgraceful effort by the wooden spoon favourites.
Fa’asuamaleaui was in pain after the game and did not attend the post-match press conference. He was replaced by five-eighth Kieran Foran.
Despite the injury, Fa’asuamaleaui is expected to be named in Queensland’s Origin II squad on Monday morning and head to Camp Maroon on the Sunshine Coast.
Fa’asuamaleaui will be assessed by Maroons medical staff in the lead-up to the sudden death game in Perth on Wednesday week.
WALSH’S PAIN
Reece Walsh has declared “I’m ready’’ for State of Origin football as coach Billy Slater issued a surprise warning to the youngster to brace himself for four months of pain.
Returning after six weeks off out with a PCL injury to his knee, Walsh revealed he told Broncos coaches to “shut up’’ and let him play so keen was he to return to the paddock and he duly starred in the Broncos landslide win against the Titans on Saturday night.
Walsh unfurled a powerful left foot step to score from a scrum then backed up on the inside after Kotoni Stagg found space for another four pointer.
“I was trying to get back last week and I kept telling the coaches to shut up and let me get in there,’’ Walsh said. “It is good to be back. It feels good. I had time off where I could get away from footy and rejuvenate myself.’’
Walsh gave Slater food for thought over whether he should be reinstated at fullback in place of Kalyn Ponga.
When you are a Queenslander, that’s all you want to do. If Billy needs me in the squad for anything, I’ll be there and ready to go. If he doesn’t, I’ll still be cheering the boys and backing them at home.”
Quizzed on Channel 9 about Walsh’s prospects of a recall, Slater was guarded in his response but did concede he was “in the discussion’’ for the team to be announced Monday morning.” Sometimes one game is enough.
“I have actually had this injury (a PCL). I know exactly what Reece was going through when he went down towards the back end of the game.
“Posterior cruciate ligaments can be quite painful and, to be honest, Reece is going to have to play with that for the rest of the season. It is something he will have to manage for the rest of the year.”
The other thing you have to think about is when you throw names up you have to take someone out. So it's a balance.’’
Walsh had been below his best this year and there is a feeling he has been “snatching at it’’ and the break away from the game has done him good.
“Big time. I had a lot of time to reflect on the start of my year. I had a really good pre-season and I obviously didn’t start the year too well. That’s just one game (tonight).“I know I’m a work in progress and I’ve just got to keep myself honest, keep reviewing my game and getting better where I can.
“I worked a lot on my skills and my craft and I felt pretty natural out there.”
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