Smith endorses DCE as Maroons skipper
STORM champion Cameron Smith says Daly Cherry-Evans is ready to join him in the Maroons’ elite captain’s club, calling for the Manly playmaker to be anointed as Queensland skipper in Origin I.
As Queensland prepare to name their team on Monday, Smith also set the record straight on speculation he was considering coming out of rep retirement to help the injury-hit Maroons.
While Cherry-Evans will miss tonight’s Manly-Titans clash at Lottoland, the Sea Eagles skipper remains confident of overcoming ankle surgery to be Queensland’s halfback on Wednesday week at Suncorp Stadium.
Maroons coach Kevin Walters is weighing up the captaincy claims of Cherry-Evans, Matt Gillett and Cameron Munster, with a decision due Sunday night.
But for Smith – arguably Queensland’s greatest captain with 21 appearances as skipper, five series wins and four Wally Lewis Medals – there is only one man to lead the Maroons into a new era.
“Daly Cherry-Evans is the obvious choice for me,” said Smith, who succeeded Darren Lockyer as Queensland and Test captain in 2012.
“He has been captain of Manly now for a few seasons, he understands that leadership role, he has played as a captain for quite a long time.”
Smith also insists he was never approached by Walters to make a Queensland comeback.
“It was never going to happen. I’m too old. Seriously,” he said. “I can honestly say this – I never considered it. Not once. I wasn’t even asked by Kevvie. It never had any legs.”