Slater was a shoo-in says Locky

DARREN Lockyer says not one NSW player got close to Billy Slater in State of Origin man of the series voting, despite the Wally Lewis Medallist coming from a losing team and not playing Game One.

Australian selectors yesterday defended their selection of Slater as the series’ best player, with Lockyer going as far as to declare the Queenslander “was way out in front of anyone else”.

Australian selectors Lockyer, Laurie Daley and Mal Meninga feared a public backlash and even discussed altering their choice given Slater had only played two of the three Origin games in a beaten Queensland team.

It is understood Blues players including Damien Cook, Boyd Cordner, James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic were the best polled for the winning side.

NRL boss Todd Greenberg conceded yesterday that the voting system would now be reviewed while NSWRL CEO David Trodden has called for “a system that has a discretionary component at the end”.

But Lockyer was adamant the result was clear.

“In the two games he played, Billy polled very highly,” Lockyer said.

“The margin with Billy was quite significant between first and second. Billy was way out in front of anyone else.”

Lockyer said the group had considered Slater’s absence from the opening match of the series.

“It’s not like we came to that decision at the drop of a hat,” he said.

“We had to decide as a group, based on the fact he only played two games, and he was in a losing series, whether the margin was enough to warrant him being man of the series.

“In the end, we decided we were comfortable with it and we had to stand by our decision.

“We all knew it wouldn’t be something that would be accepted by everyone, for sure. We followed the process and came up with an outcome.”

A clearly agitated Meninga yesterday took the criticism personally.

“The thing that upsets me is the questioning of our integrity. I feel frustrated and angry about it – questioning our ability to read a game and be impartial,” Meninga said.

“What are they thinking? Are they thinking we are biased? That we don’t know what we’re doing?

“Why are they questioning us – three knowledgeable people?

“Billy was the only outstanding player in games two and three.

“There is integrity around the process.

“The three of us viewed the game very, very similarly.

“There were some standouts through each game but there wasn’t a strong standout.

“It was a series won by a team rather than individuals.

“The three standouts on Wednesday night were Billy, Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic.

“The only consistent was Billy Slater in games two and three.

“When we added the points up independently, that’s how Billy got man of the series.”

Daley added: “Billy Slater won fairly under that system. I can understand why people are frustrated that someone from NSW didn’t win the award.”

Asked would he make his votes public, Daley said: “I can justify my decisions, as can Mal and Darren Lockyer. I’ve got no drama revealing who I voted for but I can’t unless the NRL told me I could.”

THE MARGIN WITH BILLY WAS QUITE SIGNIFICANT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND. BILLY WAS WAY OUT IN FRONT OF ANYONE ELSE

THE Queensland No.7 jersey is now Daly Cherry-Evans’ to lose after the comeback king declared he was ready to be the Maroons’ long-term halfback.

The Manly skipper played his way back into the hearts of Queenslanders on Wednesday night with a strong return after three years of Origin exile.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters said after the game that the spot was CherryEvans’ to lose, while stand-in skipper Billy Slater claimed the jersey belonged to the halfback for a “long time to come”.

“I certainly have aspirations to be here long-term,” CherryEvans said.

“I threw all my eggs into this basket (on Wednesday). I didn’t look ahead.

“I am aware of what’s ahead for Queensland and the opportunity of the seven jersey, but I wouldn’t be silly enough to look too far ahead.