Queensland to make seismic Cherry-Evans Origin call
Daly Cherry-Evans is set to become the first State of Origin captain dropped midway through a series this century, with Tom Dearden to take over as Queensland halfback.
Maroons selectors will meet on Sunday afternoon where Cherry-Evans is almost certain to be left out of the squad for Origin II, barring any late changes.
The call to leave Cherry-Evans out will easily be the biggest of Billy Slater's coaching tenure, and one of the most seismic in recent memory from either state.
Cherry-Evans has been the Maroons' first-choice No.7 and captain since 2019, taking Queensland to three series wins including their miraculous 2020 effort.
The 36-year-old has, however, come under fire since the Maroons' 18-6 loss in Origin I, which marked their second straight defeat at Suncorp Stadium.
Slater was coy when asked about selection on the Nine Network's Sunday Footy Show, and did not discuss the halfback position in depth.
Queensland dropped Trevor Gillmeister when he was captain in the 1990s.
NSW last year made the call to drop James Tedesco for Origin I before recalling him through injury and then leaving him out again for game two.
But neither state has decided to drop a captain from their side midway through a series this century.
Cherry-Evans' omission is even more significant when considering only Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith have captained more Origins for their state.
Dearden has won one of four games starting for the Maroons as a five-eighth, partnering Cherry-Evans in last year's series and in the 2023 dead rubber.
Pat Carrigan said he believed the North Queensland playmaker would be ready for the challenge.
"I played with Tommy when he debuted (for Brisbane) and his competitive nature hasn't changed," Maroons lock Carrigan said.
"He is playing great footy for the Cowboys and you put him in a Queensland jersey and he just grows to another level as well.
"Whether it be Chez or it be Tommy I know they can get the job done and we are going to need them to."
Carrigan also spoke highly of Cherry-Evans.
"Chez has done a lot for me not only as a footballer with advice but as a friend too. I love playing with him," Carrigan added.
"He is a great man with great values and I know all the boys really appreciate him a lot too.
"The big fella's footy speaks for itself. I know what the boys think of him and how Queensland rugby league thinks of him as well."
Slater must also weigh up changes in the Maroons' pack, after they were outmuscled by NSW in game one and beaten through the middle.
Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh is one option to come into the side, while Beau Fermor could also potentially start ahead of Reuben Cotter.
"I thoroughly believe whoever gets picked in that team deserves to be there and can well and truly get it done," Carrigan said.
"We were our own worst enemy with some discipline things. I led the way.
"If we dial back that sort of aggression there are plenty of really good forwards to well and truly handle the job."
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maroons make seismic call on captain Cherry-Evans
Slater was coy when asked about selection on the Nine Network's Sunday Footy Show, and did not discuss the halfback position in depth. Queensland dropped Trevor Gillmeister when he was captain in the 1990s. NSW last year made the call to drop James Tedesco for Origin I, before recalling him through injury and then leaving him out again for game two. But neither state has decided to drop a captain from their side midway through a series this century. Loading Cherry-Evans' omission is even more significant considering only Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith have captained more Origins for their state. Dearden has won one of four games starting for the Maroons as a five-eighth, partnering Cherry-Evans in last year's series, and in the 2023 dead rubber. Queensland lock Pat Carrigan said he believed the North Queensland playmaker would be ready for the challenge. 'I played with Tommy when he debuted [for Brisbane], and his competitive nature hasn't changed,' the Maroons lock said. 'He is playing great footy for the Cowboys, and you put him in a Queensland jersey, and he just grows to another level. 'Whether it be Chez or it be Tommy, I know they can get the job done, and we are going to need them to.' Carrigan also spoke highly of Cherry-Evans. 'Chez has done a lot for me, not only as a footballer with advice, but as a friend too. I love playing with him,' he said. 'He is a great man with great values, and I know all the boys really appreciate him a lot too. 'The big fella's footy speaks for itself. I know what the boys think of him, and how Queensland rugby league thinks of him as well.' Slater must also weigh up who to bring in at No.14 and replace Dearden on the bench, with Kurt Mann the favourite. There have also been calls for Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh to come into the side, after the Maroons pack were outmuscled in Origin I. 'I thoroughly believe whoever gets picked in that team deserves to be there and can well and truly get it done,' Carrigan said.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Maroons make seismic call on captain Cherry-Evans
Slater was coy when asked about selection on the Nine Network's Sunday Footy Show, and did not discuss the halfback position in depth. Queensland dropped Trevor Gillmeister when he was captain in the 1990s. NSW last year made the call to drop James Tedesco for Origin I, before recalling him through injury and then leaving him out again for game two. But neither state has decided to drop a captain from their side midway through a series this century. Loading Cherry-Evans' omission is even more significant considering only Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith have captained more Origins for their state. Dearden has won one of four games starting for the Maroons as a five-eighth, partnering Cherry-Evans in last year's series, and in the 2023 dead rubber. Queensland lock Pat Carrigan said he believed the North Queensland playmaker would be ready for the challenge. 'I played with Tommy when he debuted [for Brisbane], and his competitive nature hasn't changed,' the Maroons lock said. 'He is playing great footy for the Cowboys, and you put him in a Queensland jersey, and he just grows to another level. 'Whether it be Chez or it be Tommy, I know they can get the job done, and we are going to need them to.' Carrigan also spoke highly of Cherry-Evans. 'Chez has done a lot for me, not only as a footballer with advice, but as a friend too. I love playing with him,' he said. 'He is a great man with great values, and I know all the boys really appreciate him a lot too. 'The big fella's footy speaks for itself. I know what the boys think of him, and how Queensland rugby league thinks of him as well.' Slater must also weigh up who to bring in at No.14 and replace Dearden on the bench, with Kurt Mann the favourite. There have also been calls for Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh to come into the side, after the Maroons pack were outmuscled in Origin I. 'I thoroughly believe whoever gets picked in that team deserves to be there and can well and truly get it done,' Carrigan said.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Daley has shot at rare long-term NSW Origin stability
Laurie Daley has the chance to lead NSW through a period of near unprecedented stability, with the Blues' youth and form handing the returned coach a dream platform. Daley will announce his side for State of Origin II on Monday night, after the final game of the round between Canterbury and Parramatta. The main question before the Perth clash for NSW is how to replace Mitchell Barnett, the Warriors prop who laid the foundation for the Blues in game one, following his ruptured ACL. Stefano Utoikamanu remains the front-runner, after acting as back up for Payne Haas and his problematic quad ahead of the series opener. Keaon Koloamatangi is the other candidate, considered a more like-for-like option after being the form prop of the NRL at South Sydney for the past month. Last year's captain Jake Trbojevic won't be recalled in Barnett's spot, after being unavailable for the Origin I win in Brisbane through concussion. Regardless, Daley will have the luxury of calling in a player with Origin experience, with Utoikamanu and Koloamatangi havoing debuted for NSW in 2023. NSW's incumbent 18th man Campbell Graham is also under an injury cloud after missing South Sydney's loss to Canberra on Sunday with back spasms. The Blues are expected to name an otherwise unchanged side for Origin II, unless other players go down in the final matches of round 14. That will mean Daley picked just one debutant across the first two matches, with Max King the sole rookie for game one in Brisbane. NSW have only once gone through the first two games of a series with one or less debutants, in 1991 when there were still mass changes across the team. This situation is already in direct contrast to last year, when the Blues axed four players and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii was suspended after their series-opening loss. Queensland are also in a state of flux, with Daly Cherry-Evans, the Maroons' captain and most experienced player in their squad, set to be dropped. Daley is, by his nature, a loyal selector. In his last stint as NSW coach he routinely opted against mass changes, and stuck with the same 17 for his entire last series in 2017. Playing into his hands this time is that he has returned to a team set up for success, after they roared back to life to win last year's series-decider in Brisbane. The age of the Blues' group also gives Daley a chance to set up for long-term stability, with Barnett the oldest player in the game-one squad at age 31. Isaah Yeo and Mitch Moses are the only other members to have turned 30. Daley's main immediate hurdle in terms of those age considerations is the NRL's round-14 schedule. Four Blues are slated to feature for the Bulldogs and Eels in Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Moses and King. NSW will take a 20-man squad to Perth but the 19th and 20th men will be able to play NRL next weekend. Manly's Haumole Olakau'atu will retain his spot in the extended squad, after being a reserve last game along with Graham and Utoikamanu. Laurie Daley has the chance to lead NSW through a period of near unprecedented stability, with the Blues' youth and form handing the returned coach a dream platform. Daley will announce his side for State of Origin II on Monday night, after the final game of the round between Canterbury and Parramatta. The main question before the Perth clash for NSW is how to replace Mitchell Barnett, the Warriors prop who laid the foundation for the Blues in game one, following his ruptured ACL. Stefano Utoikamanu remains the front-runner, after acting as back up for Payne Haas and his problematic quad ahead of the series opener. Keaon Koloamatangi is the other candidate, considered a more like-for-like option after being the form prop of the NRL at South Sydney for the past month. Last year's captain Jake Trbojevic won't be recalled in Barnett's spot, after being unavailable for the Origin I win in Brisbane through concussion. Regardless, Daley will have the luxury of calling in a player with Origin experience, with Utoikamanu and Koloamatangi havoing debuted for NSW in 2023. NSW's incumbent 18th man Campbell Graham is also under an injury cloud after missing South Sydney's loss to Canberra on Sunday with back spasms. The Blues are expected to name an otherwise unchanged side for Origin II, unless other players go down in the final matches of round 14. That will mean Daley picked just one debutant across the first two matches, with Max King the sole rookie for game one in Brisbane. NSW have only once gone through the first two games of a series with one or less debutants, in 1991 when there were still mass changes across the team. This situation is already in direct contrast to last year, when the Blues axed four players and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii was suspended after their series-opening loss. Queensland are also in a state of flux, with Daly Cherry-Evans, the Maroons' captain and most experienced player in their squad, set to be dropped. Daley is, by his nature, a loyal selector. In his last stint as NSW coach he routinely opted against mass changes, and stuck with the same 17 for his entire last series in 2017. Playing into his hands this time is that he has returned to a team set up for success, after they roared back to life to win last year's series-decider in Brisbane. The age of the Blues' group also gives Daley a chance to set up for long-term stability, with Barnett the oldest player in the game-one squad at age 31. Isaah Yeo and Mitch Moses are the only other members to have turned 30. Daley's main immediate hurdle in terms of those age considerations is the NRL's round-14 schedule. Four Blues are slated to feature for the Bulldogs and Eels in Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Moses and King. NSW will take a 20-man squad to Perth but the 19th and 20th men will be able to play NRL next weekend. Manly's Haumole Olakau'atu will retain his spot in the extended squad, after being a reserve last game along with Graham and Utoikamanu. Laurie Daley has the chance to lead NSW through a period of near unprecedented stability, with the Blues' youth and form handing the returned coach a dream platform. Daley will announce his side for State of Origin II on Monday night, after the final game of the round between Canterbury and Parramatta. The main question before the Perth clash for NSW is how to replace Mitchell Barnett, the Warriors prop who laid the foundation for the Blues in game one, following his ruptured ACL. Stefano Utoikamanu remains the front-runner, after acting as back up for Payne Haas and his problematic quad ahead of the series opener. Keaon Koloamatangi is the other candidate, considered a more like-for-like option after being the form prop of the NRL at South Sydney for the past month. Last year's captain Jake Trbojevic won't be recalled in Barnett's spot, after being unavailable for the Origin I win in Brisbane through concussion. Regardless, Daley will have the luxury of calling in a player with Origin experience, with Utoikamanu and Koloamatangi havoing debuted for NSW in 2023. NSW's incumbent 18th man Campbell Graham is also under an injury cloud after missing South Sydney's loss to Canberra on Sunday with back spasms. The Blues are expected to name an otherwise unchanged side for Origin II, unless other players go down in the final matches of round 14. That will mean Daley picked just one debutant across the first two matches, with Max King the sole rookie for game one in Brisbane. NSW have only once gone through the first two games of a series with one or less debutants, in 1991 when there were still mass changes across the team. This situation is already in direct contrast to last year, when the Blues axed four players and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii was suspended after their series-opening loss. Queensland are also in a state of flux, with Daly Cherry-Evans, the Maroons' captain and most experienced player in their squad, set to be dropped. Daley is, by his nature, a loyal selector. In his last stint as NSW coach he routinely opted against mass changes, and stuck with the same 17 for his entire last series in 2017. Playing into his hands this time is that he has returned to a team set up for success, after they roared back to life to win last year's series-decider in Brisbane. The age of the Blues' group also gives Daley a chance to set up for long-term stability, with Barnett the oldest player in the game-one squad at age 31. Isaah Yeo and Mitch Moses are the only other members to have turned 30. Daley's main immediate hurdle in terms of those age considerations is the NRL's round-14 schedule. Four Blues are slated to feature for the Bulldogs and Eels in Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Moses and King. NSW will take a 20-man squad to Perth but the 19th and 20th men will be able to play NRL next weekend. Manly's Haumole Olakau'atu will retain his spot in the extended squad, after being a reserve last game along with Graham and Utoikamanu.
