Latest news with #Maroons'
West Australian
12 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Why Dearden will turn to Cherry-Evans for Maroons tips
Tom Dearden will reach out to Daly Cherry-Evans, the man he replaced in the Queensland side, before donning the No.7 jersey in State of Origin for the first time. Dearden has been elevated from the bench to the starting side after Cherry-Evans was axed for Origin II in Perth next Wednesday night. While Dearden's running game is elite, he knows replicating Cherry-Evans's signature top-notch kicking will be vital. "I know the type of bloke Chez is and I'll speak to him as it gets closer and closer to the game," Dearden said. "Chez has been one of the best kickers in the game for a long time and I know that I work hard at that aspect of my game, and it's very important in this arena, so it's something that I'm going to have to make sure that I do next Wednesday." Dearden said he was ready for the pressure of the occasion, which has gone up a notch after he replaced the skipper, and to own the side as all Maroons halfbacks must. The 24-year-old played five-eighth for the Maroons in last year's series so the Origin cauldron is not new to him. He will lean on spine members Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant to unlock the best in the Maroons' attacking arsenal. "I think the pressure is part of playing Origin and I don't think it matters what position or what number you're wearing," he said. "There's always been great players that have played in those numbers previously, so I think every time you get the chance to play for Queensland, there's just that extra added pressure. It's part of the arena. "Part of the role of playing in the halves is to lead and get the team around the park. "You do that in working as a spine and that involves a 7-6-9 and 1, so we'll all be working together to do that and hopefully do it the best we can." Dearden has never played alongside new captain Munster in the halves. The combination will be fine-tuned in camp but there are reasons to believe the pair will complement each other. "I just reckon we're both sort of similar players in the way that we like to run the ball and try and put the defence under a lot of pressure," Dearden said. "I know if we can combine well and work well with each other and find that connection throughout the week, hopefully we can build a good combination for next Wednesday."
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Why Dearden will turn to Cherry-Evans for Maroons tips
Tom Dearden will reach out to Daly Cherry-Evans, the man he replaced in the Queensland side, before donning the No.7 jersey in State of Origin for the first time. Dearden has been elevated from the bench to the starting side after Cherry-Evans was axed for Origin II in Perth next Wednesday night. While Dearden's running game is elite, he knows replicating Cherry-Evans's signature top-notch kicking will be vital. "I know the type of bloke Chez is and I'll speak to him as it gets closer and closer to the game," Dearden said. "Chez has been one of the best kickers in the game for a long time and I know that I work hard at that aspect of my game, and it's very important in this arena, so it's something that I'm going to have to make sure that I do next Wednesday." Dearden said he was ready for the pressure of the occasion, which has gone up a notch after he replaced the skipper, and to own the side as all Maroons halfbacks must. The 24-year-old played five-eighth for the Maroons in last year's series so the Origin cauldron is not new to him. He will lean on spine members Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant to unlock the best in the Maroons' attacking arsenal. "I think the pressure is part of playing Origin and I don't think it matters what position or what number you're wearing," he said. "There's always been great players that have played in those numbers previously, so I think every time you get the chance to play for Queensland, there's just that extra added pressure. It's part of the arena. "Part of the role of playing in the halves is to lead and get the team around the park. "You do that in working as a spine and that involves a 7-6-9 and 1, so we'll all be working together to do that and hopefully do it the best we can." Dearden has never played alongside new captain Munster in the halves. The combination will be fine-tuned in camp but there are reasons to believe the pair will complement each other. "I just reckon we're both sort of similar players in the way that we like to run the ball and try and put the defence under a lot of pressure," Dearden said. "I know if we can combine well and work well with each other and find that connection throughout the week, hopefully we can build a good combination for next Wednesday."
Sydney Morning Herald
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘A bit of Alfie': Daley compares Dearden to Queensland great Langer
NSW coach Laurie Daley has paid Tom Dearden the ultimate compliment – and piled the pressure on him – by comparing him to Queensland's greatest-ever halfback, Allan Langer. Dearden will wear the Maroons' No.7 jersey for the first time in Origin II in Perth next week, after Queensland coach Billy Slater's decision to axe incumbent skipper Daly Cherry-Evans following their series-opening 18-6 loss at Suncorp Stadium. Asked whether he was surprised that Cherry-Evans was omitted after a 26-game Origin career, Daley suggested Dearden – who came off the bench in game one – would be more of an attacking threat for NSW to contain, starting alongside Queensland's new skipper, Cameron Munster. 'I don't buy into what the opposition do, but what I do know is that Tom Dearden is a great player,' Daley said. 'Anyone that's ever listened to my radio show that I do, I reckon he's the person I've wrapped most on that radio show over the last 18 months. 'I just love everything about him. And he's going to be a difficult challenge for us because he's a threat every time he has the ball. Him and Munster, if they're in a running frame of mind, then it's going to be a big test for our defence.' Daley said Dearden, who made his Test debut last year as Australia's five-eighth, is 'continually ... at you' and if a defender rests for a moment, the North Queensland skipper will seize that opportunity. 'He's sort of got a little bit of 'Alfie' [Langer] about him,' Daley said. 'Different style, but Alf was always one of those players who was always at you, at you, at you. And the moment you made the wrong decision, he was through. 'And that's what Dearden is. Such a good player. Such a good, tough player. Challenges the line, and he's a massive threat to us.'
The Age
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘A bit of Alfie': Daley compares Dearden to Queensland great Langer
NSW coach Laurie Daley has paid Tom Dearden the ultimate compliment – and piled the pressure on him – by comparing him to Queensland's greatest-ever halfback, Allan Langer. Dearden will wear the Maroons' No.7 jersey for the first time in Origin II in Perth next week, after Queensland coach Billy Slater's decision to axe incumbent skipper Daly Cherry-Evans following their series-opening 18-6 loss at Suncorp Stadium. Asked whether he was surprised that Cherry-Evans was omitted after a 26-game Origin career, Daley suggested Dearden – who came off the bench in game one – would be more of an attacking threat for NSW to contain, starting alongside Queensland's new skipper, Cameron Munster. 'I don't buy into what the opposition do, but what I do know is that Tom Dearden is a great player,' Daley said. 'Anyone that's ever listened to my radio show that I do, I reckon he's the person I've wrapped most on that radio show over the last 18 months. 'I just love everything about him. And he's going to be a difficult challenge for us because he's a threat every time he has the ball. Him and Munster, if they're in a running frame of mind, then it's going to be a big test for our defence.' Daley said Dearden, who made his Test debut last year as Australia's five-eighth, is 'continually ... at you' and if a defender rests for a moment, the North Queensland skipper will seize that opportunity. 'He's sort of got a little bit of 'Alfie' [Langer] about him,' Daley said. 'Different style, but Alf was always one of those players who was always at you, at you, at you. And the moment you made the wrong decision, he was through. 'And that's what Dearden is. Such a good player. Such a good, tough player. Challenges the line, and he's a massive threat to us.'
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Maroons' pick-and-stick culture called into question
Ricky Stuart has suggested Queensland have broken their pick-and-stick culture by dropping Daly Cherry-Evans for State of Origin II to play Tom Dearden at No.7. Maroons coach Billy Slater will on Monday morning confirm his 20-man squad for the Maroons' must-win clash, with AAP told Cherry-Evans will be missing from the side. Second-rower Beau Fermor has also been dropped, with Kurt Capewell returning to the side and Kurt Mann the new No.14 with Dearden at halfback. Ezra Mam is also set to be named as a reserve as part of an extended squad, just three NRL games after his comeback from a drug-driving ban. The Broncos five-eighth will undergo scans on Monday morning in order to be cleared to join camp, after suffering a knock to his knee on Saturday night. Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh and Melbourne centre Jack Howarth are the other reserves, after the Maroons were beaten 18-6 in the series opener. But it is the dropping of Cherry-Evans that has created shockwaves, with the No.7 the first Maroons captain dropped mid-series in almost 30 years. Speaking before the 36-year-old's non-selection emerged on Sunday, former Blues halfback and coach Stuart had a subtle dig at Queensland over the call. "Queensland have got this culture of they pick and stick," the current Canberra coach said. "They've got this culture that they talk about in regards to, you know, hanging tough in tough times. "So I think that Cherry-Evans will keep his position unless they're going to break their culture. "(Otherwise) they're going to break their attitude in regards to what they've been promoting for so many years." The Maroons have long preached about a pick-and-stick culture, which was evident through their dynasty between 2006 and 2017. Stuart coached NSW in two of those seasons, falling to series losses in 2011 and 2012. NSW players were also surprised when told of Cherry-Evans' omission on Sunday afternoon. "It's their call," second-rower Liam Martin said. "Obviously they were disappointed with the first game. That's Billy's call, it's what they think is right for the team. But we've just got to respond to that now." Dearden has started in the halves four times previously for Queensland, after first partnering Cherry-Evans in the Maroons' 2022 series-decider success. The 24-year-old played five-eighth for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup win, and has had an impressive start to 2025 with North Queensland. Dearden has scored four tries for the Cowboys, set up 11 and created 16 linbereaks, bettering Cherry-Evans' numbers at Manly in all categories. Ricky Stuart has suggested Queensland have broken their pick-and-stick culture by dropping Daly Cherry-Evans for State of Origin II to play Tom Dearden at No.7. Maroons coach Billy Slater will on Monday morning confirm his 20-man squad for the Maroons' must-win clash, with AAP told Cherry-Evans will be missing from the side. Second-rower Beau Fermor has also been dropped, with Kurt Capewell returning to the side and Kurt Mann the new No.14 with Dearden at halfback. Ezra Mam is also set to be named as a reserve as part of an extended squad, just three NRL games after his comeback from a drug-driving ban. The Broncos five-eighth will undergo scans on Monday morning in order to be cleared to join camp, after suffering a knock to his knee on Saturday night. Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh and Melbourne centre Jack Howarth are the other reserves, after the Maroons were beaten 18-6 in the series opener. But it is the dropping of Cherry-Evans that has created shockwaves, with the No.7 the first Maroons captain dropped mid-series in almost 30 years. Speaking before the 36-year-old's non-selection emerged on Sunday, former Blues halfback and coach Stuart had a subtle dig at Queensland over the call. "Queensland have got this culture of they pick and stick," the current Canberra coach said. "They've got this culture that they talk about in regards to, you know, hanging tough in tough times. "So I think that Cherry-Evans will keep his position unless they're going to break their culture. "(Otherwise) they're going to break their attitude in regards to what they've been promoting for so many years." The Maroons have long preached about a pick-and-stick culture, which was evident through their dynasty between 2006 and 2017. Stuart coached NSW in two of those seasons, falling to series losses in 2011 and 2012. NSW players were also surprised when told of Cherry-Evans' omission on Sunday afternoon. "It's their call," second-rower Liam Martin said. "Obviously they were disappointed with the first game. That's Billy's call, it's what they think is right for the team. But we've just got to respond to that now." Dearden has started in the halves four times previously for Queensland, after first partnering Cherry-Evans in the Maroons' 2022 series-decider success. The 24-year-old played five-eighth for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup win, and has had an impressive start to 2025 with North Queensland. Dearden has scored four tries for the Cowboys, set up 11 and created 16 linbereaks, bettering Cherry-Evans' numbers at Manly in all categories. Ricky Stuart has suggested Queensland have broken their pick-and-stick culture by dropping Daly Cherry-Evans for State of Origin II to play Tom Dearden at No.7. Maroons coach Billy Slater will on Monday morning confirm his 20-man squad for the Maroons' must-win clash, with AAP told Cherry-Evans will be missing from the side. Second-rower Beau Fermor has also been dropped, with Kurt Capewell returning to the side and Kurt Mann the new No.14 with Dearden at halfback. Ezra Mam is also set to be named as a reserve as part of an extended squad, just three NRL games after his comeback from a drug-driving ban. The Broncos five-eighth will undergo scans on Monday morning in order to be cleared to join camp, after suffering a knock to his knee on Saturday night. Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh and Melbourne centre Jack Howarth are the other reserves, after the Maroons were beaten 18-6 in the series opener. But it is the dropping of Cherry-Evans that has created shockwaves, with the No.7 the first Maroons captain dropped mid-series in almost 30 years. Speaking before the 36-year-old's non-selection emerged on Sunday, former Blues halfback and coach Stuart had a subtle dig at Queensland over the call. "Queensland have got this culture of they pick and stick," the current Canberra coach said. "They've got this culture that they talk about in regards to, you know, hanging tough in tough times. "So I think that Cherry-Evans will keep his position unless they're going to break their culture. "(Otherwise) they're going to break their attitude in regards to what they've been promoting for so many years." The Maroons have long preached about a pick-and-stick culture, which was evident through their dynasty between 2006 and 2017. Stuart coached NSW in two of those seasons, falling to series losses in 2011 and 2012. NSW players were also surprised when told of Cherry-Evans' omission on Sunday afternoon. "It's their call," second-rower Liam Martin said. "Obviously they were disappointed with the first game. That's Billy's call, it's what they think is right for the team. But we've just got to respond to that now." Dearden has started in the halves four times previously for Queensland, after first partnering Cherry-Evans in the Maroons' 2022 series-decider success. The 24-year-old played five-eighth for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup win, and has had an impressive start to 2025 with North Queensland. Dearden has scored four tries for the Cowboys, set up 11 and created 16 linbereaks, bettering Cherry-Evans' numbers at Manly in all categories.
