DCE ‘cocky, arrogant’ Mitchell Moses comments kick of Origin ‘mind games’

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has given NSW a taste of their own medicine after his honest take on the Blues’ new halfback.

Let the mind games begin. Photo: Getty Images

Mitchell Moses may have won the Blues No. 7 jersey for State of Origin game II, but the hard work has just begun according to his Maroons counterpart Daly Cherry-Evans.

But Fox Sports’ James Hooper has called out the Queensland captain over his “cocky” and “arrogant” comments.

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Moses was named the Blues No. 7 for the must-win game two at Suncorp Stadium on June 21, beating out the likes of Broncos half Adam Reynolds and Shark Nicho Hynes.

But Cherry-Evans, who took over the Maroons No. 7 after the era of Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston, has turned the spotlight on his opposite number.

“It’s a huge step up for him – it’s not the same,” Cherry-Evans told The Daily Telegraph.

“We all know it (NRL form) is not the same and that’s what makes Origin so good.

“For sure, it’s a step up.

“I know for me, how I play at club level doesn’t cut it at Origin level.

“You need to go to a new level, so you have to be ready for that.”

Well played DCE. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

It comes after Queensland coach Billy Slater appeared to suggest that Moses would cop the brunt of the reception from the Queensland crowd on NRL 360 on Tuesday.

But on Wednesday, the NRL 360 panel discussed the comments, with Hooper branding the comments “cocky” and “arrogant”.

“I think it’s a little bit cocky, I think it’s a little bit arrogant but given the position they’re in — he’s played 20 State of Origin games for Queensland now,” Hooper said.

“I think what’s a little bit cocky about it is that he knows Mitchell Moses is only entering his second State of Origin game, it’s at Suncorp, he knows that hostile environment he’s going to be walking into, so I think by him throwing it out there, it’s a smart bit of berley in the water.”

He was alone on the panel as Braith Anasta said Cherry-Evans deserved his say, having held the Maroons’ No. 7 for the past 14 matches and played Origin for 20 matches overall.

Gorden Tallis said it was refreshing to return to some spice in the press before Origin.

“It was said at every press conference through my Origin career but they just haven’t said anything for the last 10 years,” he said.

“Players haven’t gone at the opposition so it’s strange for a player but I love it.

“And I’ll tell you what — DCE would have felt that pressure. There’s no doubt he’s just returning serve. He’s sat behind Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk and there would have been question marks over him. There’s no doubt following those two legends.”

Moses is set to play in just his second Origin match. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Tallis said he didn’t think it was a ploy but rather just honesty.

Anasta suggested it may have been a jab to put some pressure on Moses.

Hooper said it was “absolutely” some payback.

“I remember when Daly first started in State of Origin, he’d get peppered with questions about the fact that his own teammates didn’t want to play with him,” Hooper said.

“Paul Gallen said all of Queensland have two heads. Those days are long gone now, you don’t see that kind of theatre.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis said he felt the comments added “a little bit of spice, but it’s the truth — it is a step up.”

But Maroons great Billy Moore backed the Queensland skipper for trying to get in Moses’ head.

“I think the fact DCE’s had a little bit of a chirp, what he’s done there is mind games,” he said.

“A little bit of doubt.

“The Origin arena is a different world. He’s just trying to break him down just that little bit.”

Moses previously played as a replacement for Nathan Cleary in the 2021, coming in for a dead rubber in game three.

Queensland had been demolished by 50-6 in game one, 26-0 in game two, but pulled off a 20-18 victory.

But Moses played the match with a fracture in his back sustained early in the match and has since led the Eels to the 2022 Grand Final, adding some big game experience to his resume.