Latest news with #Dearden
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Daly Cherry-Evans responds to calls for Queensland to ‘pull the trigger' on axing captain for State of Origin II
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans wants to achieve a 45-year first for the Maroons and stay on as halfback amid Andrew Johns' call for him to be axed. After the Maroons' 18-6 loss to NSW in the State of Origin series opener, their third defeat in a row to the Blues, NSW's greatest halfback said it was time for current No.14 Tom Dearden to take over as No.7. 'Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in,' now commentator Johns said. North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons but Queensland have never dropped a captain mid-series in their Origin history. It is why Maroons legend Shane Webcke told Triple M on Wednesday night the state was facing a quandary. 'I am a bit worried. There's some serious questions to be asked. And unfortunately, one of them I think might be Daly Cherry-Evans,' Webcke said. 'I just feel like he's at that point in his career. And when you see him with (No.6) Cameron Munster tonight, the magic wasn't there. And that worries me. 'And I hate to suggest something about a bloke like Daly Cherry-Evans, but I feel like at the end of the last series, we probably lost the opportunity with a bloke like him. 'He's 36 years old. But the opportunity was probably there to reinvent a bit. And I think we might pay a price for not having done that.' Cherry-Evans has been around long enough to know these kind of murmurs arise after losses, but he wants to create history with Queensland and be part of a memorable series victory. The Maroons have never lost the opening Origin match at home and then won the series with two games on the road. They now must do so in Perth and Sydney to raise the shield. 'Those stats are there to be broken. That's the mentality we've got to have, create our own bit of history,' he said. 'Sometimes you have to do things not the way you planned it at the start. 'It's a greater sign of a team facing adversity, overcoming obstacles and that's the opportunity we've got in front of us. I believe in the group and I believe in everyone, from the coaching staff to the playing group. 'Queensland will be cheering from afar, so we have to do them proud.' The skipper also addressed claims he was a spent force at Origin level but rejected that sentiment. 'When you lose, it's just natural in this game that those questions will be asked,' he said. 'I just have to go away, look at my own performance and where I can help the team get better. I am certainly not the one to lose self-belief, that's for sure. 'Because of the role I have for this side, I will definitely take my share of responsibility and look really hard at where I can help the team get better for the next game. It's always difficult after a loss being in the position I'm in. It's not lost on me.' Cherry-Evans has been in this position before. In 2020 he led a team that was tagged the worst Maroons side of all-time to a 2-1 series win. It is why he retains the faith this series can be salvaged. 'There's a lot of people in this group who have played a lot of footy together,' he said. 'This is going to be our greatest test and because of the relationships and the talent in the team, that's why I've got so much belief we can do this.' Queensland coach Billy Slater was unequivocal in his support of the squad immediately after the defeat, suggesting he would not make any rash changes.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Andrew Johns calls for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be replaced by Tom Dearden
Andrew Johns has called for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be axed and replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback. The fallout from NSW's 18-6 defeat of the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium will include what changes Queensland make in Perth for game two on June 15. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW's greatest half said it was time for Dearden, who played No.14 on Wednesday night, to replace him. Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues. 'Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in,' Johns said on Nine. 'I don't know where the improvement comes with this group. 'New South Wales, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that. 'I don't know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something. '(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE.' North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans was asked if he wanted another opportunity in Perth to show that he is not a spent force. 'Yeah, definitely. I guess with losing comes the question,' he said. 'So we've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it.' Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith also weighed in on the Cherry-Evans issue when asked if it was time to 'move on' from the Maroons captain, but he made it clear coach Billy Slater would be the crucial voice. 'Well, there's always that temptation and I think Billy will have that discussion with his selection panel and he'll go through this game thoroughly,' Smith said. 'He'll watch it multiple times from different angles from the high shot, from a reverse camera, from the shot that everyone watches on TV. And he'll pick it to pieces and he'll do his due diligence on what happened. 'There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion tonight. In the crucial moments of the game they just couldn't get the job done.' The Maroons had poor discipline, were clunky in attack and failed to own the middle of the field. They also had dud last tackle options and missed 48 tackles. Slater said the reasons why those factors prevailed were yet to be determined. 'That's probably something for the review, and looking through the the tape and, obviously sitting down with the group. At the end of the day it's got to come from the players,' he said. 'I definitely don't think it's a personnel thing. I know what this team's capable of and and that's why you can probably see I'm disappointed because they haven't played their best footy. 'I feel responsible to try and help them get there. So it's definitely not a personnel thing. They've had a great attitude as well. But to the discipline side of the game, the attitude wasn't good enough.'
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Pull the trigger': NSW legend calls for DCE to be axed
Andrew Johns has called for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be axed and replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback. The fallout from NSW's 18-6 defeat of the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium will include what changes Queensland make in Perth for game two on June 15. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW's greatest half said it was time for Dearden, who played No.14 on Wednesday night, to replace him. Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues. "Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in," Johns said on Channel Nine. " I don't know where the improvement comes with this group. "NSW, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that. "I don't know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something. "(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE." North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans was asked if he wanted another opportunity in Perth to show that he is not a spent force. "Yeah, definitely. I guess with losing comes the question," he said. "So we've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it." Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith also weighed in on the Cherry-Evans issue when asked if it was time to "move on" from the Maroons captain, but he made it clear coach Billy Slater would be the crucial voice. "Well, there's always that temptation and I think Billy will have that discussion with his selection panel and he'll go through this game thoroughly," Smith said. "He'll watch it multiple times from different angles from the high shot, from a reverse camera, from the shot that everyone watches on TV. And he'll pick it to pieces and he'll do his due diligence on what happened. "There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion tonight. In the crucial moments of the game they just couldn't get the job done." The Maroons had poor discipline, were clunky in attack and failed to own the middle of the field. They also had dud last tackle options and missed 48 tackles. Slater said the reasons why those factors prevailed were yet to be determined. "That's probably something for the review, and looking through the the tape and, obviously sitting down with the group. At the end of the day it's got to come from the players," he said. "I definitely don't think it's a personnel thing. I know what this team's capable of and and that's why you can probably see I'm disappointed because they haven't played their best footy. "I feel responsible to try and help them get there. So it's definitely not a personnel thing. They've had a great attitude as well. But to the discipline side of the game, the attitude wasn't good enough." Andrew Johns has called for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be axed and replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback. The fallout from NSW's 18-6 defeat of the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium will include what changes Queensland make in Perth for game two on June 15. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW's greatest half said it was time for Dearden, who played No.14 on Wednesday night, to replace him. Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues. "Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in," Johns said on Channel Nine. " I don't know where the improvement comes with this group. "NSW, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that. "I don't know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something. "(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE." North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans was asked if he wanted another opportunity in Perth to show that he is not a spent force. "Yeah, definitely. I guess with losing comes the question," he said. "So we've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it." Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith also weighed in on the Cherry-Evans issue when asked if it was time to "move on" from the Maroons captain, but he made it clear coach Billy Slater would be the crucial voice. "Well, there's always that temptation and I think Billy will have that discussion with his selection panel and he'll go through this game thoroughly," Smith said. "He'll watch it multiple times from different angles from the high shot, from a reverse camera, from the shot that everyone watches on TV. And he'll pick it to pieces and he'll do his due diligence on what happened. "There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion tonight. In the crucial moments of the game they just couldn't get the job done." The Maroons had poor discipline, were clunky in attack and failed to own the middle of the field. They also had dud last tackle options and missed 48 tackles. Slater said the reasons why those factors prevailed were yet to be determined. "That's probably something for the review, and looking through the the tape and, obviously sitting down with the group. At the end of the day it's got to come from the players," he said. "I definitely don't think it's a personnel thing. I know what this team's capable of and and that's why you can probably see I'm disappointed because they haven't played their best footy. "I feel responsible to try and help them get there. So it's definitely not a personnel thing. They've had a great attitude as well. But to the discipline side of the game, the attitude wasn't good enough." Andrew Johns has called for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be axed and replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback. The fallout from NSW's 18-6 defeat of the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium will include what changes Queensland make in Perth for game two on June 15. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW's greatest half said it was time for Dearden, who played No.14 on Wednesday night, to replace him. Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues. "Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in," Johns said on Channel Nine. " I don't know where the improvement comes with this group. "NSW, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that. "I don't know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something. "(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE." North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans was asked if he wanted another opportunity in Perth to show that he is not a spent force. "Yeah, definitely. I guess with losing comes the question," he said. "So we've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it." Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith also weighed in on the Cherry-Evans issue when asked if it was time to "move on" from the Maroons captain, but he made it clear coach Billy Slater would be the crucial voice. "Well, there's always that temptation and I think Billy will have that discussion with his selection panel and he'll go through this game thoroughly," Smith said. "He'll watch it multiple times from different angles from the high shot, from a reverse camera, from the shot that everyone watches on TV. And he'll pick it to pieces and he'll do his due diligence on what happened. "There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion tonight. In the crucial moments of the game they just couldn't get the job done." The Maroons had poor discipline, were clunky in attack and failed to own the middle of the field. They also had dud last tackle options and missed 48 tackles. Slater said the reasons why those factors prevailed were yet to be determined. "That's probably something for the review, and looking through the the tape and, obviously sitting down with the group. At the end of the day it's got to come from the players," he said. "I definitely don't think it's a personnel thing. I know what this team's capable of and and that's why you can probably see I'm disappointed because they haven't played their best footy. "I feel responsible to try and help them get there. So it's definitely not a personnel thing. They've had a great attitude as well. But to the discipline side of the game, the attitude wasn't good enough."
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
'Pull the trigger': NSW legend calls for DCE to be axed
Andrew Johns has called for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be axed and replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback. The fallout from NSW's 18-6 defeat of the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium will include what changes Queensland make in Perth for game two on June 15. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW's greatest half said it was time for Dearden, who played No.14 on Wednesday night, to replace him. Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues. "Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in," Johns said on Channel Nine. " I don't know where the improvement comes with this group. "NSW, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that. "I don't know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something. "(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE." North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans was asked if he wanted another opportunity in Perth to show that he is not a spent force. "Yeah, definitely. I guess with losing comes the question," he said. "So we've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it." Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith also weighed in on the Cherry-Evans issue when asked if it was time to "move on" from the Maroons captain, but he made it clear coach Billy Slater would be the crucial voice. "Well, there's always that temptation and I think Billy will have that discussion with his selection panel and he'll go through this game thoroughly," Smith said. "He'll watch it multiple times from different angles from the high shot, from a reverse camera, from the shot that everyone watches on TV. And he'll pick it to pieces and he'll do his due diligence on what happened. "There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion tonight. In the crucial moments of the game they just couldn't get the job done." The Maroons had poor discipline, were clunky in attack and failed to own the middle of the field. They also had dud last tackle options and missed 48 tackles. Slater said the reasons why those factors prevailed were yet to be determined. "That's probably something for the review, and looking through the the tape and, obviously sitting down with the group. At the end of the day it's got to come from the players," he said. "I definitely don't think it's a personnel thing. I know what this team's capable of and and that's why you can probably see I'm disappointed because they haven't played their best footy. "I feel responsible to try and help them get there. So it's definitely not a personnel thing. They've had a great attitude as well. But to the discipline side of the game, the attitude wasn't good enough."
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Pull the trigger': NSW legend calls for DCE to be axed
Andrew Johns has called for Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans to be axed and replaced by Tom Dearden at halfback. The fallout from NSW's 18-6 defeat of the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium will include what changes Queensland make in Perth for game two on June 15. Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW's greatest half said it was time for Dearden, who played No.14 on Wednesday night, to replace him. Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues. "Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in," Johns said on Channel Nine. " I don't know where the improvement comes with this group. "NSW, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that. "I don't know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something. "(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE." North Queensland co-captain Dearden played five-eighth in last year's series and was outstanding at No.6 for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup. Cherry-Evans was asked if he wanted another opportunity in Perth to show that he is not a spent force. "Yeah, definitely. I guess with losing comes the question," he said. "So we've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it." Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith also weighed in on the Cherry-Evans issue when asked if it was time to "move on" from the Maroons captain, but he made it clear coach Billy Slater would be the crucial voice. "Well, there's always that temptation and I think Billy will have that discussion with his selection panel and he'll go through this game thoroughly," Smith said. "He'll watch it multiple times from different angles from the high shot, from a reverse camera, from the shot that everyone watches on TV. And he'll pick it to pieces and he'll do his due diligence on what happened. "There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion tonight. In the crucial moments of the game they just couldn't get the job done." The Maroons had poor discipline, were clunky in attack and failed to own the middle of the field. They also had dud last tackle options and missed 48 tackles. Slater said the reasons why those factors prevailed were yet to be determined. "That's probably something for the review, and looking through the the tape and, obviously sitting down with the group. At the end of the day it's got to come from the players," he said. "I definitely don't think it's a personnel thing. I know what this team's capable of and and that's why you can probably see I'm disappointed because they haven't played their best footy. "I feel responsible to try and help them get there. So it's definitely not a personnel thing. They've had a great attitude as well. But to the discipline side of the game, the attitude wasn't good enough."
