Cherry-Evans great pick for Origin

MANLY captain Daly Cherry-Evans has his best chance to push for Queensland’s vacant State of Origin playmaker role against Cronulla today at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

Seemingly forgotten by the Maroons’ hierarchy, the sixtime Origin representative hopes to present a case too hard to ignore against the NSW-laden Sharks.

Cherry-Evans sits third in the NRL for try assists, and has turned the Sea Eagles’ attack this year into the most-potent in the competition.

He also leads all of Queensland’s likely contenders for the No.6 jersey in terms of try assists, line-break assists and field goals this season.

His 11 line dropouts forced and two 40-20 kicks are well above Michael Morgan’s and Cameron Munster’s numbers.

Yet, when Queensland coach Kevin Walters went through his list of possible Thurston replacements on Thursday night, Cherry-Evans did not get a mention.

Today, though, CherryEvans – who is zero-from-two when starting for the Maroons – can make his statement.

Up against two NSW forwards in Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham, he will also go head-to-head with Blues fiveeighth James Maloney.