Loyalty must be won by results

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has delivered returning Maroons Daly CherryEvans and Corey Oates a blunt outlook on their State of Origin futures: Win Game Three if you want to be picked next year.

Cherry-Evans will make his comeback from a three-year exile tomorrow week, after Walters confirmed yesterday the Manly skipper would wear the No.7 jersey ahead of Ben Hunt at Suncorp Stadium.

Broncos winger Oates will also return to the Origin arena in his first match since Game One last year, following the withdrawal of captain Greg Inglis with a broken thumb.

Walters said yesterday the extra experience of CherryEvans, Oates and forward Tim Glasby was the key factor behind their inclusion as Queensland fight to avoid a series whitewash.

But Walters also made it clear their futures were in their own hands, challenging them to force the selectors into remaining loyal next year.

“We’re very loyal as Queenslanders, and the selectors have been very loyal. But we want to be loyal to a winning team,” Walters said.

“That’s what we need to be loyal to more than anything else. We picked (CherryEvans) for a reason. We want to win Game Three. That’s the sole reason why we have selected the 17 that we have.

“Our first priority is to win Game Three and start building with another eye on the future as well. If DCE can have a good performance, there’s no reason he can’t be back here next year.

“For Corey, he has been knocking on the door since his last appearance. No doubt Corey will want to give himself a nice game and a really strong game to cement his spot.”

Hunt has been moved to the bench in favour of CherryEvans, who has long been rumoured to be on the outer with Queensland officials.

Walters again denied those suggestions yesterday, and also defended Hunt’s performance in Game Two, after the playmaker came under heavy scrutiny for his decisions in attack.

He said the reason for Cherry-Evans’ recall had nothing to do with Hunt’s Origin II effort, but a lack of leadership in the halves.

“He’s a great experienced player … he’s a premiership winner, he’s played Origin football, he’s played Test football,” Walters said of CherryEvans.

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