Daly Cherry-Evans’ Origin analogy ahead of Game 2

Daly Cherry-Evans has come up with the perfect analogy for the Maroons halves pairing heading into Game 2 of the State of Origin series.

Daly Cherry-Evans has captained Queensland since 2019. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has turned to ancient Chinese philosophy to describe why he and his halves partner Cameron Munster must be on song to secure an upset win over NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

“I feel like we are a bit of yin and yang,” Cherry-Evans said.

“We complement each other. I make sure I get him feeling as comfortable as I can around the side and our structure, and then Mun can do his thing.

“Mun’s unpredictability is one of his greatest strengths, so if I can have him not worrying about structure and just running the footy and playing what he sees, then that is going to be better for Queensland.”

“Yin and yang” is an ancient Chinese concept that describes what appears to be conflicting forces that in reality act in a complementary and unified why.

In rugby league terms, when it comes to halves combinations for the Maroons, think the Wally Lewis/Allan Langer and Darren Lockyer/Johnathan Thurston partnerships. They were totally different styles of players who together were a potent force.

Cherry-Evans and Munster are yet to reach those kind of heights as a duo, but in last year’s series win Munster was at his best in the two games the Maroons won when he was playing off the cuff and free of any shackles. Cherry-Evans assumed the role of an organising general and it worked a treat.

Cameron Munster previously admitted he should have sat Game 1 out. Picture: Josh Woning

Munster, who was struggling with a foot injury in Townsville, said he was guilty of “ball watching” in the 50-6 loss to NSW in Game 1 and was determined to reboot his running game and be a foil for his captain at Suncorp Stadium as he was last year.

Cherry-Evans said they had both faced the brutal truth of their failings and were ready to make amends.

“As much as people have written us off we can let it motivate us, and me and Mun have to understand that we have been here before as a side,” Cherry-Evans said.

“Me and him as the seven and six have to take control of the side again and help steer us around and get us playing a good, tough style of footy.

“We were off in Game 1 and we had to own that in front of the group, but both of us know we can change it and what we have to do to change it. Sunday can’t come quick enough.”

And getting back to the “yin and yang”, Cherry-Evans stressed that his connection with Munster to play as a unified halves combination had been nurtured.

“We enjoy our footy together. We enjoy hanging out and talking about footy, and we enjoy not talking about footy as well,” Cherry-Evans said.

“We have built a friendship and over my years that is the key thing that has really helped me play well with my five-eighths. Me and Mun have built that friendship and we need to tap into that this week and connect a bit better.”