Slater's brutal moment in axing of Cherry-Evans as QLD coach dodges key question
Billy Slater has revealed details of the difficult conversation he had with Daly Cherry-Evans after axing him as Maroons captain for Origin Game 2. Slater confirmed his 20-man squad on Monday morning for the must-win clash in Perth on Wednesday week, with Tom Dearden taking over the No.7 jersey and replacing DCE, who has captained the Maroons for the last four years.
However, Slater dodged questions about who would take over the captaincy from DCE and said a decision would be announced on Tuesday. The Maroons coach admitted he had a 'tough' conversation with Cherry-Evans on Sunday night after informing the veteran halfback of his decision, and was told by DCE that he was keen to play on.
But ultimately the call came down to Slater, who becomes the first Queensland coach to axe his captain mid-series since Trevor Gillmesiter was dropped in the 1990s. Slater did not go into detail about why he chose to dump DCE, but suggested it was more to do with the impressive form of Dearden, who injected much needed spark off the bench in Game 1 and has been excellent in the halves for the Cowboys this season.
'We don't take any decision lightly, whether it's a player keeping their spot or another player coming in. All Queenslanders are considered,' Slater told reporters about his decision on Monday. 'We just feel Tom is the right person for the number seven jersey right now. First of all, you won't hear a negative word from me about Daly Cherry-Evans.
'What he has given this jersey and what he has done for this footy team and this group, that will be with all Queenslanders and with Daly for the rest of his life. No one can take that away from him. We just feel that Tom Dearden has earned the opportunity to play in the number seven jersey.'
Slater said he phoned DCE on Sunday night to inform him he'd been dropped and praised the manner in which the veteran accepted the bad news. The Queensland coach admitted it was not an easy conversation after Cherry-Evans told him that he was keen to continue leading the side.
'Obviously Daly wanted to play and he was disappointed that he wasn't going to get the opportunity,' added Slater. 'We had a good conversation and we have a great relationship. I have played alongside Daly, and I've been the coach and he has been the captain over the last four years. We have shared some great memories and he has done some really good things. They are tough conversations but it was one that was had with a lot of respect.'
Cherry-Evans is considered by many to be a scapegoat of the Maroons' loss in Game 1, where the Queensland forwards were dominated by the Blues' pack and failed to lay a platform for the halves. But Slater says the inclusion of Dearden is what he determined to be "the best thing for the footy team" and backed the 24-year-old to take the reins for his state.
Titans edge forward Beau Fermor is the other player to be axed from the Maroons' Game 1 side, with Warriors veteran Kurt Capewell earning a recall and expected to be in contention for a starting spot. Kurt Mann is expected to take over Dearden's No.14 role, while Slater copped backlash for selecting controversial Broncos star Ezra Mam in his extended squad, with the 22-year-old only three games back from a nine-week suspension for last year's drug-driving scandal.
Cherry-Evans' axing also means the Maroons need to appoint a new captain, with Harry Grant, Patrick Carrigan, Cameron Munster and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui the leading candidates. Slater did not confirm who would get the nod on Monday but suggested that announcement would be made at Maroons camp on Tuesday.
'We've got quite a few club captains,' Slater said. 'Quite a few leaders within the footy team, so I feel whenever you play for the Queensland team you're a leader in your own right anyway, no matter how old you are or what you've done in the past. Whoever is named captain, they're going to get a fair bit of support from the leaders around him.'
1 Kalyn Ponga 2 Xavier Coates 3 Robert Toia 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5 Valentine Holmes 6 Cameron Munster 7 Tom Dearden 8 Mo Fotuaika 9 Harry Grant 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11 Kurt Capewell 12 Jeremiah Nanai 13 Pat Carrigan Interchange: 14 Kurt Mann 15 Lindsay Collins 16 Reuben Cotter 17 Trent Loiero Reserves: Ezra Mam Jack Howarth Corey Horsburgh
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