QRL boss Ben Ikin insists Daly Cherry-Evans’ contract saga won’t derail Maroons

Former Queensland rep Ben Ikin has scoffed at suggestions Daly Cherry-Evans could be sensationally axed from State of Origin, insisting the veteran’s contract saga won’t derail the Maroons. HAVE YOUR SAY

Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin has dismissed concerns Daly Cherry-Evans is distracted by his contract saga and could derail the Maroons’ Origin campaign.

Speaking on the eve of the naming of the Queensland team for Origin I on Monday, Ikin scoffed at suggestions their star could be sensationally axed in favour of a Cameron Munster-Tom Dearden halves alliance.

Ironically, it was one of Queensland’s greatest Origin players, Cooper Cronk, who this week spotlighted the elephant in the room – Cherry-Evans’ recent club form for Manly.

Cronk, also a QRL board member, urged Cherry-Evans to come clean with a decision on his future, fearing the champion skipper’s contract bombshell at Brookvale could spill over into Camp Maroon.

But Ikin is backing Queensland’s long-serving leader, insisting Cherry-Evans’ uncertain NRL future won’t destabilise the Maroons’ quest for a third Origin shield in four years.

“Daly can handle all of that,” Ikin said.

Ben Ikin has scoffed at suggestions Daly Cherry-Evans could be axed. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“He’s been around this game for a long time.

“It’s not as though this is his first rodeo with regards to contract negotiations that have found their way into the public domain.

“He’s a pretty unflappable sort of character.

“In fact, I would go as far to say that getting into a new environment and just being able to focus on something different will actually be a good change for ‘DCE’.

“He loves playing for Queensland. It could possibly even re-energise him and send him back to Manly feeling better about himself.”

Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: Adam Head

Since returning to the Queensland fold, Cherry-Evans has been a Maroons mainstay.

The 36-year-old clinched the Queensland captaincy in 2019 and has played in six consecutive series, skippering the Maroons to three Origin crowns – including their epic Covid-affected triumph under Wayne Bennett in 2020.

But with Munster set to return from injury and Dearden on the rise as a Queensland shot-caller, there is a view Cherry-Evans is under threat for the No.7 jumper.

The Manly veteran has amassed 25 Origin matches.

Ikin is confident he will be picked for Game No.26 to lead the Maroons into battle against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.

“I think the whole Manly team has been up and down,” Ikin said.

“Daly is now a 36-year-old halfback, so his job inside that team has probably shifted from what it was even two or three years ago.

“He’s the brains of Manly.

“’Turbo’ (injured Manly and NSW superstar Tom Trbojevic) being in and out to start the season hasn’t helped Manly either.

“Once they get their core group on the field and playing together for a longer period, Daly’s form will get back to where he wants it to be.

“Sometimes if you’re not at your best, the changing environment can do you the world of good.

“Daly is a world-class halfback – he is a proven performer in the Queensland jumper.”

Stung by a 2-1 series defeat last year – including a 14-4 loss in the decider at Suncorp after winning Game One – Queensland coach Billy Slater is desperate to hit back.

The Maroons go into the 2025 campaign facing adversity, having lost Broncos duo, superstar fullback Reece Walsh (knee) and utility Ben Hunt (hamstring), to injury.

Meanwhile, hooker Harry Grant will go into the Origin opener underdone after missing the past five weeks with a hamstring complaint.

But Ikin backed Slater, who won back-to-back crowns in his first two years as Queensland coach, to plot NSW’s downfall.

“He’s a competitive bugger, but so is the other bloke (NSW coach Laurie Daley),” Ikin said.

“I look at Billy and I look at Laurie and I had great admiration for how both of them played the game. They just wanted to win everything.

“But Billy, having lost last year’s series, I think he’s still been burning since Game Two. He did not like that loss (a 38-18 rout in Melbourne) one bit.

“The other thing is, he’s a deep thinker.

“Billy knows and understands where Queensland fell short, which he’ll keep to himself, and he’ll make sure that whatever the Maroons got wrong last year, we’ll do better this year.”