Daly Cherry-Evans’ State of Origin career all-but over as Billy Slater weighs up axing halfback for Tom Dearden

Billy Slater is weighing up the biggest selection call of his tenure, with the Queensland coach on the verge of dropping halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans, effectively ending his glittering Origin career.

Queensland coach Billy Slater is weighing up the biggest selection call of his career by axing besieged halfback Daly Cherry-Evans for Tom Dearden as the Maroons face appointing a new captain for Origin II.

This masthead understands Cherry-Evans’ glittering Origin career is all-but over with the Maroons skipper set to be axed for the return bout at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Wednesday week.

Slater is under enormous pressure to save the series, acutely aware another defeat will represent four straight Origin losses and leave the Maroons facing a 3-0 humiliation.

The Maroons last suffered a 3-0 Blue rinse in the 2000 series debacle 25 years ago.

Cherry-Evans’ tenure in the No.7 jumper has come under the microscope in the wake of a dismal 18-6 loss to NSW in Game One in which the skipper struggled for control behind a well-beaten Maroons pack.

Queensland’s team for Origin II will be named Monday morning.

Daly Cherry-Evans’ glittering Origin career is all-but over with the Maroons skipper set to be axed. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Slater is not expected to make wholesale changes, but it’s understood he is considering a drastic one by dumping his captain and chief playmaker in favour of Dearden.

Dearden has impressed in his five Origin games for Queensland and ‘Joey’ Johns, one of the greatest halfbacks in history, backed the Cowboys rising star to spearhead a Maroons fightback.

“I’d be putting Tom Dearden in,” said Blues icon and Channel 9 expert analyst Johns.

“I just think Dearden is the halfback (for Origin II).

“It’s his time.

“Daly is 36 and it’s a big call to drop your captain, but this is a must-win.

“Daly has been a great player for Queensland but no-one beats Father Time ... and it’s Tom Dearden’s time.”

Tom Dearden looks set to take the No.7 jersey from Cherry-Evans. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Dearden has shown nerves of steel in the code’s toughest arena.

In 2022, the 24-year-old answered an eleventh-hour SOS from Slater after star five-eighth Cameron Munster was struck down by Covid just 48 hours before the series decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Dearden went on to play a blinder in his debut, inspiring a 22-12 victory, and there is a view his competitive fire and youth can lift Queensland after he energised the Maroons off the bench in Game One a fortnight ago.

Cherry-Evans has been a magnificent servant for Queensland.

He has 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 is on the chopping block.

Maroons legend Cameron Smith, Origin’s most-capped player of all-time with 42 appearances, said it would be a bold decision to axe Cherry-Evans but Slater had to pick a team capable of levelling the series.

Axing Cherry-Evans is a major call from coach Billy Slater. Picture: NRL Photos

“It’s a big call to leave Daly Cherry-Evans out of game two,” Smith told Channel 9.

“But as head coach of the Maroons he’s got to make decisions on what’s best for the footy side and will give them the best opportunity to win game two.

“Billy and Laurie Daley (NSW coach) would have 17 or 18 players pencilled in and planning already for things to happen in the build-up.”

Cherry-Evans’ potential demise would force Slater to make another gargantuan call - who succeeds ‘DCE’ as Queensland’s next captain.

The Maroons coach has no shortage of options with Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Kalyn Ponga, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Harry Grant all holding captaincy roles at their respective NRL clubs.

Then there’s Munster, Queensland’s larrikin pivot who has matured enormously over the past two years and is regarded as the Maroons’ current day version of Wally ‘The King’ Lewis.

Before Game One, legendary Maroons 1995 skipper Trevor Gillmeister anointed Fa’asuamaleaui as Queensland’s next captain.

“Tino can do the job, absolutely,” said Gillmeister, who inspired a 3-0 rout in 1995.

“He is the perfect captain ... he just conducts himself so well on and off the field.”

In other selection news, Kurt Mann, 18th man in the series opener, is on the verge of his Origin debut if Dearden is elevated from the bench to replace Cherry-Evans.

Cotter is tipped to be demoted to interchange, opening the door for Game One bench debutant Beau Fermor to start alongside Jeremiah Nanai in the back row.

Roosters rookie Robert Toia is safe at centre, while middle forwards Mo Fotuaika and Trent Loiero are expected to be retained as the Maroons fight to avert back-to-back series failures.