FROM ZERO TO HERO
Hi Queensland. My name is Daly and I’m here to be your Origin saviour
He’s been public enemy No.1 on the Gold Coast in recent years but Daly Cherry-Evans will tonight run out for Queensland hoping to prove he belongs in the State of Origin arena. The Blues may head to Suncorp Stadium chasing a cleansweep, but Cherry-Evans – who famously backflipped on a Titans deal in 2015 – looms as the unlikely hero for a depleted Maroons side chasing a consolation victory. The Manly halfback, though, concedes defeat could close the door on his Queensland career.
DALY Cherry-Evans concedes his head is on the Origin chopping block – but has vowed to be the playmaking boss who can save the Maroons from clean-sweep humiliation.
Cherry-Evans faces his death-or-glory moment in Origin III, with more than three million viewers set to tune in looking for an answer to one question – can DCE truly deliver in Maroon?
The Maroons’ No.7 has lost twice as a starting halfback and it has been three years since Cherry-Evans was last seen in the Origin arena, axed after Queensland’s 26-18 defeat at the MCG in 2015.
But with NSW plotting their first 3-0 rout in 18 years, Queensland coach Kevin Walters is banking on CherryEvans to ignite the Maroons after Ben Hunt failed to heed his directive to “own” the team.
The jury remains out on whether Cherry-Evans can be Queensland’s next long-term halfback, but the embattled No.7 pledged to be the dominant voice who takes charge of the Maroons tonight.
“I have the No.7 on my back for a reason and that’s to run the team,” he said.
“I’m not perfect but I have come a long way as a halfback in the last three years and learnt a lot.
“I’ll be very clear to my teammates in what I ask of them and it’s my job to make sure I am getting us to the right parts of the field and that certain players get the right ball at the right time.
“Origin is such a heightened experience with the pressure that is on everyone.
“I feel blessed to get another opportunity and it’s up to me to make sure I take advantage of that and hopefully help Queensland to victory.
“I know I have to perform … or I won’t get another chance.”
In his previous two outings as Queensland halfback in 2014-15, Cherry-Evans failed to forge a slick partnership with Johnathan Thurston.