Skipper inspired by Origin legends
DALY Cherry-Evans admits his reign as Queensland skipper will be defined by winning and is under pressure to emulate Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith by delivering an Origin crown.
As he prepares for his captaincy debut in Origin I, Cherry-Evans pledged to uphold the legacy of Queensland’s greatest skippers when he leads a new Maroons era against NSW at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night.
Four years ago, on June 5, 2015, Cherry-Evans was sensationally booed onto Suncorp Stadium for a Broncos-Manly clash after reneging on his $4 million Titans contract.
Now, eerily on the very same day in June, ‘DCE’ runs onto the same ground as Queensland’s 15th captain accepting his quality as a leader will be judged on whether he can help the Maroons reclaim the Origin shield.
“I want to be a winning captain,” Cherry-Evans said.
“The names you have just mentioned (Lewis, Smith and Lockyer) are so great because they won.
“They are winners and when they played at Origin level, they were successful.
“Without putting too much pressure on the result, I can’t wait to get out there and just do my job, leading does come naturally to me, especially out on a rugby league field.
“We’ve worked really hard this week to win the game ... we haven’t just come here to put up a fight.”
No other Queensland captain has endured such a tumultuous rise to the Maroons throne quite like Cherry-Evans.
For three years, he was on the outer with the Queensland family, said to have had his cards marked by a Maroons hierarchy not convinced the halfback could adjust to their playmaking structures.
But Cherry-Evans’ recall last year, and subsequent Origin-defining performance in Queensland’s 18-12 win in Game Three, was the trigger for his stunning ascension to one of the highest offices in Australian sport.
Now 30, Cherry-Evans plays his eighth Origin game tomorrow and says he has no doubt he can deliver the goods as a playmaker and captain.
“I’m very confident in the person I am and the footy player I am,” he said.
“Nailing your role in Origin I is more important than ever.
“Both sides are extremely talented so it’s about who can nail their job on the big stage and am I confident in doing my job ... of course I am.
“I don’t go into many games hesitating about my ability.
“Most games are won and lost between the ears and my head is switched on and focused for the job.”