Why it was the right call to axe a legend

The Advertiser

a day ago

Queensland must go back to what has served them best in desperate hours of need. They have to "want it" more than NSW or their hopes of keeping the State of Origin series alive will be blown apart in Perth next week.
That attitude - combined with NSW looking like they thought they only had to do so much to win, a trap the Blues have fallen into plenty of times - has brought the Maroons many wins against the odds since Origin began in 1980.
Comparing the two lineups on paper, it's very hard to see Queensland winning and the bookmakers agree. They've got NSW as hot favourites with the Maroons getting 8.5 points start at a neutral venue.
The Blues won game one 18-6 on Queensland's home ground and the reality was the difference between the two teams was more like twice that 12-point advantage.
There is also no form-line coming out of recent years that supports the idea of the Maroons turning this series around with a win in game two and sending it to a decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney on July 9.
Queensland have traditionally fought back strongly in game two after NSW have taken a substantial advantage by winning game one.
They won nine and lost nine of the first 18 game twos played under those circumstances, but the last two times the Blues have won the opening game - in 2018 and 2021 - they've gone on to clinch the series by winning game two.
Queensland are coming off three straight Origin losses - games two and three last year and this year's opener. The last time they lost three in a row before that was games two and three in 2005 and the opener in 2006.
The last time the Maroons lost four in a row was in 1996-97, when they actually lost five straight. They were clean swept in '96 and lost the first two in '97.
The Maroons haven't scored a try 13 on 13 against the Blues in either of the last two Origins. Their only try came when the Blues were down to 12 men via a player in the sin bin in game one of this series.
And NSW have a stunningly good record in game twos played at neutral venues. They have won seven out of eight such games, including the last five in a row and the only two that have been played in Perth - in 2019 and '22.
Back when igniting a brawl was a good way of putting your opponents off their game the Maroons got excellent value out of that tactic.
But now, because of the risk of leaving your team a man down for 10 minutes in the fastest game of rugby league that exists, no-one dares to throw a punch.
It's all just push and shove and harsh words. No-one gets put off their game.
Queensland coach Billy Slater did what he had to do and axed the under-performing veteran halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans for this game, promoting Tom Dearden from the bench to start in the number seven jumper.
The Maroons need their forwards to turn up way better than they did in Origin I and for Dearden and his halves partner and new Queensland captain Cameron Munster to play out of their minds behind that.
It'll help a lot if the Blues are off their game a bit.
Maybe then, just maybe, the Maroons might have a shot at winning. Remember, it is Origin, and anything can happen. Queensland have got to hang on to that thought now as much as ever.
Now that the State of Origin career of Cherry-Evans is over we wait to see what happens with his club career and what has been an interesting watch from the start is rapidly becoming a fascinating one.
The strong mail all along since he declared this will be his last season with Manly is that he will play for Sydney Roosters next year, but still there is no confirmation.
It makes you wonder if there hasn't been a firm deal done yet or the Roosters have got cold feet based on DCE's patchy recent club form and Origin sacking on top of that. Or both.
The Roosters struck gold when they signed veteran halfback Cooper Cronk and he steered them to back-to-back premierships in 2018-19, but they're asking for a lot if they hope DCE can have a similar effect.
MORE NRL NEWS
Cronk had turned 34 in the December before he began playing for the Roosters and was undeniably still at the peak of his powers. He had won another premiership with Melbourne in 2017.
DCE turns 37 in February and his only premiership came with the Sea Eagles back in 2011.
Good luck to DCE if he scores another big contract to finish his career, but I reckon the Roosters would be better off concentrating on their young halves coming through rather than gambling on lightning striking twice.
Lachlan Galvin joining Canterbury might actually improve Toby Sexton's chances of winning a new contract with the club.
Sexton's move from halfback to hooker for the Bulldogs against Parramatta on the holiday Monday when Galvin came off the bench to play halfback gave Sexton the chance to display his versatility and he did a fine job with what was an unscripted move.
He could become a valuable cover for the halves and hooker from the bench or maybe even challenge for the starting hooker role down the track.
Sexton is a fantastic clubman too, which only adds to his appeal.
Queensland must go back to what has served them best in desperate hours of need. They have to "want it" more than NSW or their hopes of keeping the State of Origin series alive will be blown apart in Perth next week.
That attitude - combined with NSW looking like they thought they only had to do so much to win, a trap the Blues have fallen into plenty of times - has brought the Maroons many wins against the odds since Origin began in 1980.
Comparing the two lineups on paper, it's very hard to see Queensland winning and the bookmakers agree. They've got NSW as hot favourites with the Maroons getting 8.5 points start at a neutral venue.
The Blues won game one 18-6 on Queensland's home ground and the reality was the difference between the two teams was more like twice that 12-point advantage.
There is also no form-line coming out of recent years that supports the idea of the Maroons turning this series around with a win in game two and sending it to a decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney on July 9.
Queensland have traditionally fought back strongly in game two after NSW have taken a substantial advantage by winning game one.
They won nine and lost nine of the first 18 game twos played under those circumstances, but the last two times the Blues have won the opening game - in 2018 and 2021 - they've gone on to clinch the series by winning game two.
Queensland are coming off three straight Origin losses - games two and three last year and this year's opener. The last time they lost three in a row before that was games two and three in 2005 and the opener in 2006.
The last time the Maroons lost four in a row was in 1996-97, when they actually lost five straight. They were clean swept in '96 and lost the first two in '97.
The Maroons haven't scored a try 13 on 13 against the Blues in either of the last two Origins. Their only try came when the Blues were down to 12 men via a player in the sin bin in game one of this series.
And NSW have a stunningly good record in game twos played at neutral venues. They have won seven out of eight such games, including the last five in a row and the only two that have been played in Perth - in 2019 and '22.
Back when igniting a brawl was a good way of putting your opponents off their game the Maroons got excellent value out of that tactic.
But now, because of the risk of leaving your team a man down for 10 minutes in the fastest game of rugby league that exists, no-one dares to throw a punch.
It's all just push and shove and harsh words. No-one gets put off their game.
Queensland coach Billy Slater did what he had to do and axed the under-performing veteran halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans for this game, promoting Tom Dearden from the bench to start in the number seven jumper.
The Maroons need their forwards to turn up way better than they did in Origin I and for Dearden and his halves partner and new Queensland captain Cameron Munster to play out of their minds behind that.
It'll help a lot if the Blues are off their game a bit.
Maybe then, just maybe, the Maroons might have a shot at winning. Remember, it is Origin, and anything can happen. Queensland have got to hang on to that thought now as much as ever.
Now that the State of Origin career of Cherry-Evans is over we wait to see what happens with his club career and what has been an interesting watch from the start is rapidly becoming a fascinating one.
The strong mail all along since he declared this will be his last season with Manly is that he will play for Sydney Roosters next year, but still there is no confirmation.
It makes you wonder if there hasn't been a firm deal done yet or the Roosters have got cold feet based on DCE's patchy recent club form and Origin sacking on top of that. Or both.
The Roosters struck gold when they signed veteran halfback Cooper Cronk and he steered them to back-to-back premierships in 2018-19, but they're asking for a lot if they hope DCE can have a similar effect.
MORE NRL NEWS
Cronk had turned 34 in the December before he began playing for the Roosters and was undeniably still at the peak of his powers. He had won another premiership with Melbourne in 2017.
DCE turns 37 in February and his only premiership came with the Sea Eagles back in 2011.
Good luck to DCE if he scores another big contract to finish his career, but I reckon the Roosters would be better off concentrating on their young halves coming through rather than gambling on lightning striking twice.
Lachlan Galvin joining Canterbury might actually improve Toby Sexton's chances of winning a new contract with the club.
Sexton's move from halfback to hooker for the Bulldogs against Parramatta on the holiday Monday when Galvin came off the bench to play halfback gave Sexton the chance to display his versatility and he did a fine job with what was an unscripted move.
He could become a valuable cover for the halves and hooker from the bench or maybe even challenge for the starting hooker role down the track.
Sexton is a fantastic clubman too, which only adds to his appeal.
Queensland must go back to what has served them best in desperate hours of need. They have to "want it" more than NSW or their hopes of keeping the State of Origin series alive will be blown apart in Perth next week.
That attitude - combined with NSW looking like they thought they only had to do so much to win, a trap the Blues have fallen into plenty of times - has brought the Maroons many wins against the odds since Origin began in 1980.
Comparing the two lineups on paper, it's very hard to see Queensland winning and the bookmakers agree. They've got NSW as hot favourites with the Maroons getting 8.5 points start at a neutral venue.
The Blues won game one 18-6 on Queensland's home ground and the reality was the difference between the two teams was more like twice that 12-point advantage.
There is also no form-line coming out of recent years that supports the idea of the Maroons turning this series around with a win in game two and sending it to a decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney on July 9.
Queensland have traditionally fought back strongly in game two after NSW have taken a substantial advantage by winning game one.
They won nine and lost nine of the first 18 game twos played under those circumstances, but the last two times the Blues have won the opening game - in 2018 and 2021 - they've gone on to clinch the series by winning game two.
Queensland are coming off three straight Origin losses - games two and three last year and this year's opener. The last time they lost three in a row before that was games two and three in 2005 and the opener in 2006.
The last time the Maroons lost four in a row was in 1996-97, when they actually lost five straight. They were clean swept in '96 and lost the first two in '97.
The Maroons haven't scored a try 13 on 13 against the Blues in either of the last two Origins. Their only try came when the Blues were down to 12 men via a player in the sin bin in game one of this series.
And NSW have a stunningly good record in game twos played at neutral venues. They have won seven out of eight such games, including the last five in a row and the only two that have been played in Perth - in 2019 and '22.
Back when igniting a brawl was a good way of putting your opponents off their game the Maroons got excellent value out of that tactic.
But now, because of the risk of leaving your team a man down for 10 minutes in the fastest game of rugby league that exists, no-one dares to throw a punch.
It's all just push and shove and harsh words. No-one gets put off their game.
Queensland coach Billy Slater did what he had to do and axed the under-performing veteran halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans for this game, promoting Tom Dearden from the bench to start in the number seven jumper.
The Maroons need their forwards to turn up way better than they did in Origin I and for Dearden and his halves partner and new Queensland captain Cameron Munster to play out of their minds behind that.
It'll help a lot if the Blues are off their game a bit.
Maybe then, just maybe, the Maroons might have a shot at winning. Remember, it is Origin, and anything can happen. Queensland have got to hang on to that thought now as much as ever.
Now that the State of Origin career of Cherry-Evans is over we wait to see what happens with his club career and what has been an interesting watch from the start is rapidly becoming a fascinating one.
The strong mail all along since he declared this will be his last season with Manly is that he will play for Sydney Roosters next year, but still there is no confirmation.
It makes you wonder if there hasn't been a firm deal done yet or the Roosters have got cold feet based on DCE's patchy recent club form and Origin sacking on top of that. Or both.
The Roosters struck gold when they signed veteran halfback Cooper Cronk and he steered them to back-to-back premierships in 2018-19, but they're asking for a lot if they hope DCE can have a similar effect.
MORE NRL NEWS
Cronk had turned 34 in the December before he began playing for the Roosters and was undeniably still at the peak of his powers. He had won another premiership with Melbourne in 2017.
DCE turns 37 in February and his only premiership came with the Sea Eagles back in 2011.
Good luck to DCE if he scores another big contract to finish his career, but I reckon the Roosters would be better off concentrating on their young halves coming through rather than gambling on lightning striking twice.
Lachlan Galvin joining Canterbury might actually improve Toby Sexton's chances of winning a new contract with the club.
Sexton's move from halfback to hooker for the Bulldogs against Parramatta on the holiday Monday when Galvin came off the bench to play halfback gave Sexton the chance to display his versatility and he did a fine job with what was an unscripted move.
He could become a valuable cover for the halves and hooker from the bench or maybe even challenge for the starting hooker role down the track.
Sexton is a fantastic clubman too, which only adds to his appeal.
Queensland must go back to what has served them best in desperate hours of need. They have to "want it" more than NSW or their hopes of keeping the State of Origin series alive will be blown apart in Perth next week.
That attitude - combined with NSW looking like they thought they only had to do so much to win, a trap the Blues have fallen into plenty of times - has brought the Maroons many wins against the odds since Origin began in 1980.
Comparing the two lineups on paper, it's very hard to see Queensland winning and the bookmakers agree. They've got NSW as hot favourites with the Maroons getting 8.5 points start at a neutral venue.
The Blues won game one 18-6 on Queensland's home ground and the reality was the difference between the two teams was more like twice that 12-point advantage.
There is also no form-line coming out of recent years that supports the idea of the Maroons turning this series around with a win in game two and sending it to a decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney on July 9.
Queensland have traditionally fought back strongly in game two after NSW have taken a substantial advantage by winning game one.
They won nine and lost nine of the first 18 game twos played under those circumstances, but the last two times the Blues have won the opening game - in 2018 and 2021 - they've gone on to clinch the series by winning game two.
Queensland are coming off three straight Origin losses - games two and three last year and this year's opener. The last time they lost three in a row before that was games two and three in 2005 and the opener in 2006.
The last time the Maroons lost four in a row was in 1996-97, when they actually lost five straight. They were clean swept in '96 and lost the first two in '97.
The Maroons haven't scored a try 13 on 13 against the Blues in either of the last two Origins. Their only try came when the Blues were down to 12 men via a player in the sin bin in game one of this series.
And NSW have a stunningly good record in game twos played at neutral venues. They have won seven out of eight such games, including the last five in a row and the only two that have been played in Perth - in 2019 and '22.
Back when igniting a brawl was a good way of putting your opponents off their game the Maroons got excellent value out of that tactic.
But now, because of the risk of leaving your team a man down for 10 minutes in the fastest game of rugby league that exists, no-one dares to throw a punch.
It's all just push and shove and harsh words. No-one gets put off their game.
Queensland coach Billy Slater did what he had to do and axed the under-performing veteran halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans for this game, promoting Tom Dearden from the bench to start in the number seven jumper.
The Maroons need their forwards to turn up way better than they did in Origin I and for Dearden and his halves partner and new Queensland captain Cameron Munster to play out of their minds behind that.
It'll help a lot if the Blues are off their game a bit.
Maybe then, just maybe, the Maroons might have a shot at winning. Remember, it is Origin, and anything can happen. Queensland have got to hang on to that thought now as much as ever.
Now that the State of Origin career of Cherry-Evans is over we wait to see what happens with his club career and what has been an interesting watch from the start is rapidly becoming a fascinating one.
The strong mail all along since he declared this will be his last season with Manly is that he will play for Sydney Roosters next year, but still there is no confirmation.
It makes you wonder if there hasn't been a firm deal done yet or the Roosters have got cold feet based on DCE's patchy recent club form and Origin sacking on top of that. Or both.
The Roosters struck gold when they signed veteran halfback Cooper Cronk and he steered them to back-to-back premierships in 2018-19, but they're asking for a lot if they hope DCE can have a similar effect.
MORE NRL NEWS
Cronk had turned 34 in the December before he began playing for the Roosters and was undeniably still at the peak of his powers. He had won another premiership with Melbourne in 2017.
DCE turns 37 in February and his only premiership came with the Sea Eagles back in 2011.
Good luck to DCE if he scores another big contract to finish his career, but I reckon the Roosters would be better off concentrating on their young halves coming through rather than gambling on lightning striking twice.
Lachlan Galvin joining Canterbury might actually improve Toby Sexton's chances of winning a new contract with the club.
Sexton's move from halfback to hooker for the Bulldogs against Parramatta on the holiday Monday when Galvin came off the bench to play halfback gave Sexton the chance to display his versatility and he did a fine job with what was an unscripted move.
He could become a valuable cover for the halves and hooker from the bench or maybe even challenge for the starting hooker role down the track.
Sexton is a fantastic clubman too, which only adds to his appeal.