Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans brutally axed with controversial star Ezra Mam making squad ahead of Origin 2

Sky News AU

a day ago

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans' State of Origin career could be all but over after he received the axe from coach Billy Slater ahead of must win Game 2 in Perth.
Replacing the long-serving Manly Sea Eagles halfback will be young gun Tom Dearden, it was revealed on Monday.
The Cowboys star looks to partner alongside Melbourne Storm five eighth Cameron Munster while Ezra Mam has also been given the call to be a part of an extended squad, following three NRL games after his comeback from a controversial drug-driving ban.
Following a tough Game 1 18-6 loss to New South Wales in their own backyard at Suncorp Stadium, Slater looks to have pulled the trigger early in a desperate bid to turn things around with a must needed win at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Wednesday, June 18.
The 41-year-old coach said Cherry-Evans took the decision with great character and respect following a phone call conversation.
'You won't hear a negative word from me about Daly Cherry-Evans. What he has done and what he's given this footy team, that will be with all Queenslanders and with Daly for the rest of his life,' he told media.
'Obviously Daly wanted to play, and he was disappointed … but he took the news with great character and great respect, we had a good conversation. We have a great relationship.'
The 36-year-old captain will be replaced by 24-year-old Dearden who has been sighted as the 'right person' to lead the team into a new era of Queensland Origin football.
'I don't take any decision lightly … we just feel Tom is the right person for the number seven jersey right now,' Slater said.
'We feel Tom Dearden has earned the right to wear the jersey and we feel it's the right thing for the footy team."
Slater insisted the young half will have the keys to unlock Queensland's outside backs, which was something the state didn't get right under Cherry-Evans.
'We want to play to our players' strengths,' he continued.
'There are some areas in Game 1 that we didn't get right, so changing the number seven jersey and personnel there, that's not going to fix everything.
'We need to look at game one and perform better.'
Meanwhile, Mam was selected for the state's extended 20-man squad following his nine-match ban from a drug-driving incident.
Mam is only three games back after he was banned for driving unlicensed after he collided into an Uber carrying three occupants at the time - 64-year-old driver Marcel Van Den Camp, a mother and her four-year-old daughter on October 18.
The decision to select Mam will be sure to cause a divide amongst fans after he was recently booed during Brisbane's heavy defeat to the Sea Eagles last week.
'Should honestly be ashamed for picking Mam,' one fan wrote on X.
'Does my head in the rewards Ezra Mam gets after drug/drink driving, crashing into an innocent family and injuring them. Nine games stood down, three games back and into Origin,' another added.
Slater has also confirmed he has dropped Gold Coast Titan Beau Fermor for veteran Kurt Capewell, with Raider's enforcer Corey Horsborough and Storm centre Jack Howarth also getting the call up.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh did not make the squad despite his impressive showing for his club side as they delivered a huge win over the Titans on Saturday night.