NEVER FORGET
COAST TURNCOAT STILL ON ORIGIN OUTER
DALY Cherry-Evans’ days as an Origin utility are over and he will only earn a recall to the Queensland team as a starting playmaker under Kevin Walters.
Cherry-Evans was controversially overlooked by Maroons selectors yesterday who named Broncos halfback Ben Hunt to make his Origin debut in tomorrow week’s Suncorp Stadium decider.
Michael Morgan is favoured to start in the No. 6 jersey, however Cameron Munster is still in the calculations to replace Johnathan Thurston.
Four of Cherry-Evans’ six appearances for the Maroons under Mal Meninga from 2013-15 came as a bench utility.
But Walters believes “DCE” is exclusively a starting player and saw more merit in blooding Hunt for his Origin debut from the bench.
Cherry-Evans was rumoured to be on the outer with senior Maroons players following a mixed performance in Game Two of the 2015 series but Walters slammed those suggestions.
“He is obviously disappointed in not making the side, but the thing that disappointed him more was the rumour around him not being accepted in this group,” he said.
“It’s a personal attack on him. It’s ridiculous to think someone would start those rumours when they’ve got no truth whatsoever.
“He was most disappointed with the media and what has been a pretty personal attack on him, saying that certain members of this team and the Queensland Rugby League don’t accept him.
“That’s probably the most disappointing thing and he said that. These rumours, nonsense and hogwash about him not fitting in to the Maroons couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I just want to put that to bed, fairly and squarely.
“When you wear the Maroons jumper, you’re part of a great team and family. He’s worn that jumper extremely well in the past. If he keeps playing the way he is, he will wear it again next year.”
Walters’ comments show Cherry-Evans could be Queensland’s next No.7 if Cooper Cronk retires from the Origin arena this year.
He has been the NRL’s form halfback this season but won’t force his way back into the side unless it is in a starting position.
“Daly was (the utility) in Mal’s days,” selector Gene Miles said. “We used Daly in the middle. He gave one of the big boppers a break.
“Ben could fill in at (hooker) and Cameron (Smith) could go out a bit wider and have a break. If we do have an injury out wide he can fill all those positions as well.”
Walters rang Cherry-Evans yesterday to explain his decision to overlook the Manly halfback. “If DCE was playing he had to be in the starting 13,” Walters said.