Phil Gould doubles down on criticism of Billy Slater’s decision to axe Daly Cherry-Evans from Maroons for Origin II
Phil Gould has condemned Billy Slater’s decision to axe Daly Cherry-Evans from the Queensland squad for game two, claiming the under-pressure Maroons will be lucky to score two tries in Perth.
Phil Gould has doubled down on his criticism of Billy Slater’s decision to axe Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and claimed the Maroons will be lucky to score two tries in what will be 20-point Origin II humiliation.
The Maroons need to win Wednesday night’s second game in Perth to keep the series alive and avoid back-to-back series defeats.
Queensland has lost the past three Origin matches in convincing fashion and has only scored one try in the last two games – both on home turf at Suncorp Stadium.
Staring down the barrel of a fourth straight loss, and second series defeat, Slater wielded the selection axe on 26-game halfback and skipper Cherry-Evans for the must-win match in Perth.
The decision was controversial given Queensland hasn’t dropped a captain mid-series since Trevor Gillmeister in 1996.
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The Maroons forwards were also badly beaten in Game One, yet Slater only made one change to his pack in dropping bench backrower Beau Fermor, who was given 16 minutes on debut.
Cherry-Evans has provided little comment on the decision other than to admit it was “tough” to receive the news he had been dropped.
It is understood he was shattered by the call, especially after the ill-disciplined performance Queensland dished up in Game One that gave him little good ball to attack with.
‘Gus’ Gould is the most successful NSW coach in State of Origin history, winning six series from eight attempts.
He has made numerous comments condemning the decision to dump ‘DCE’ in favour of Tom Dearden and reiterated his stance on Monday.
“He doesn’t get that goodbye moment after a great career, they’ve said goodbye for him,” Gould told 100% Footy.
“He doesn’t get to stand there on the field after a win, loss or draw at the end of the series and say ‘this is my last time’.
“They’ve made their mind up for him, I think it’s been pretty unceremonious actually. I think it’s very, very ordinary, to be honest.”
Dearden has been elevated from the bench utility role to halfback to provide Queensland with a more direct attacking style than the scheming Cherry-Evans.
He will form a new-look halves combination with new captain Cameron Munster at five-eighth.
But Gould predicted Queensland would still struggle to score points at Optus Stadium, where they been smashed 38-6 (2019) and 44-12 (2022) in recent games.
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“I can find four or five tries for New South Wales but I’m struggling to find two tries for Queensland,” he said.
“I think it’ll be four or five tries to one or two, if they all kick the goals, 30-12 would be my scoreline.
“I don’t think it will be close. Sorry, I know you all want a decider but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Originally published as Phil Gould doubles down on criticism of Billy Slater’s decision to axe Daly Cherry-Evans from Maroons for Origin II
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