Maroons plan to topple NSW Panther clique
Daly Cherry-Evans will rely on his own solid spine combination to counter a Penrith-heavy NSW unit that proved too good in last year’s State of Origin.
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans admits the Penrith blueprint has been studied in camp this week, aware they must not only counter it, but dictate to snap a five-year State of Origin drought in Sydney.
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai orchestrated 50-6 and 26-0 floggings to win NSW back the shield last year, Queensland’s game three victory only coming with both men absent through injury.
The pair have won a premiership together since then, their dominance recognised with an NRL-high six players in Brad Fittler’s side to play on Wednesday.
The halves and ball-playing lock Isaah Yeo have formed a formidable partnership that Cherry-Evans says has kept new coach Billy Slater busy analysing this week.
“The more time you spend out on the field with someone naturally you’re going to improve and build a good connection,” he explained of their threat.
“They’ve done that at club level and have a few mates around them (for NSW) to help them out.
“We’re pretty aware of ways we can try and limit them but it’s easier said than done.
“We’ve given them the respect this week, but we’ve come back to the fact that we need to dictate how we play.”
There is familiarity for the Maroons too, with Ben Hunt retained at hooker after starring there in game three last year and five-eighth Cameron Munster set to play his 15th Origin game.
The larrikin No.6 was up to his usual tricks at Queensland’s final training session before flying to Sydney on Monday, heckling the captain as he spoke to media.
“Oh, Daly Cherry-Evans, big fan mate, all the best on Wednesday,” he screamed from his push bike as he rolled past.
Munster has arrived in camp in career-best shape and exciting form after a white-powder scandal last year saw him fined, suspended and promptly checked into a health and wellness retreat.
“He’s still the same idiot that we all love,” Cherry-Evans said.
“And I enjoy having Ben in the side, especially at hooker, he opens up so many options, he really is the complete package.”
Queensland haven’t beaten the Blues since Fittler took over in 2018, but Cherry-Evans says that hasn’t been a theme under Slater, who has ditched any talk of underdog status under his watch.
“It’s not for us to worry about; we can’t control what’s happened in the last five years,” he said.
“They’ve (the coaching staff) put their spin on it, what they believe will make us play well on Wednesday and everyone’s bought into that style of footy.
“I’m hoping it’s reflective of the players in the side; people who can use the footy and some that can be very direct over the advantage line.”
Comments on RugbyPass
anybody who bends at the waist when they tackle
3 Go to commentsThe evidence is not strong that this is necessary. Mounga choked on clutch kicks in the WRC final and lost the match by not performing his core goal kicking role to the level required. He also choked in the Semi final against England and was targeted as the weak point in the defence allowing them to score. Not a test great frankly. Why bend the rules for a player that is competent but not brilliant at test level?
11 Go to commentsDear Robbie, Please return to the Crusaders next season. Sincerely, Scott
1 Go to commentsDid the big E call the Irish the ‘White Can’ts’? That would’ve been good
30 Go to commentsDalton Papalii will be lucky to be selected on the Matchday 23. Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, and Peter Lauki are all as good or better openside flankers
9 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a lock and they have a much longer shelf life than a loose forward. Far more likely that Barrett will still demand a starting position based on performance at age 33 at RWC 2027 than Savea, whose explosive athleticism will have declined and he will in all likelihood have been surpassed by Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Siti, Peter Lauki and Brayden Iose.
9 Go to commentsExtremely frustrating to get yet more speculation over whether or not Eben actually counted 12 players or not, but honestly big respect to McCloskey for keeping it classy and not pointing out Etzebeth’s hypocrisy. The Irish are a popular team outside of Ireland because they do their talking on the pitch, and its honestly a PR masterclass that they’re keeping it that way following Etzebeth’s provocation.
30 Go to commentsGood option for the lineout lost there.
1 Go to commentsIt’s not like Saffas have a long history of spouting absolute shite at any & every occasion. Oh wait… The dangers of an inferior third world education strike again.
30 Go to commentsI’m so glad we’re revisiting this. Really needs to be dissected further. I’m also so glad that a guy in the stands who wasn’t anywhere near the field when any of it would have been said (and even confirms this) has taken the lead and commented as Ireland. Definitely cleared it all up. This article would be hilarious if it wasn’t so misleading.
30 Go to commentsits such a shame he hasn’t achieved more success at club level. He’s really not been a potent finisher for a while now, but he’s still excellent in the kick chase. That’s the kind of skillset that generally only gets appreciated when you’re playing in premiership and european finals. I’m not sure whether the challenge cup counts given the quality of the competition seems lower than in previous years, but his duel with Mapimpi should be enthralling.
1 Go to commentsThe point is the irish players were arrogant,call it like you want sugar coat it aswell but they were you could see it in their way they handeled themselfs on the field when they got something right so dont tell me it was not arrogance it was,you can fool other people but not me,and to say to one of our players see you in the final put a nail in the coffin for this bullsh@t,just be grown men and accept it that you were arrogant,you could if seen it from a mile away, and then you lost to the allblacks what a cocky move that didnt work out for you ,Eben was right when he said u were arrogant,the point is you will deny it because you lost it all just grow some balls and move on we had won you lost accept it.
30 Go to comments“summer tour of North and South America” so its a summer tour of america?
1 Go to commentsEverybody is giving the Irish players the benefit of the doubt in ‘what they meant’, but none of these pundits or commentators offer the same courtesy to Eben. I don’t think Eben went, 1, 2, 3… etc. What might have happened is he didn’t count and when the 3rd or 5th guy said he went, hang on why are so many of them saying this… and then started to concentrate on it more and more as players continue to say it. So no, he didn’t count it, he realised many Irish players said it and made an assumption based on that… The Irish team was VERY confident at the time and I do believe they believed they were going to win the World Cup, which borders a bit on the arrogant side…
30 Go to commentsI can see how some of the Irish players would have said”see you in the final” as a gentle comment after a victory. It’s open to interpretation but it’s clumsy language. I don’t know the fella but I assure you Eben doesn’t have an axe to grind with Ireland. He has never been the media seeking pro. Oh and BTW it is I’ll be our winter in July so won’t be wet.
30 Go to comments*McCloskey*: _I saw this clip. Like, I wasn’t playing that game; I was in the stands…so you don't know sh!t in other words, infact you know just as much as Goode on this matter. I will believe the guy who was on the pitch when things were said as appose to two people speculating over what was said._
30 Go to comments@ turlough dream on buddy. Your boys are in for one tough time down in sa this summer…
30 Go to commentsI think Goode is looking to establish a platform for himself. Eben said “Probably” so that suggests he wasn’t counting. It’s an estimate Goode. I think even with your short and uneventful experience with the Sharks you probably realise winding up Saffas will get you some airtime. It’s a none event. Move on
30 Go to commentsRugby has never been as structured and synthetically pleasing as it is at this moment. The game is simply beautiful and messing with it too much will ruin it for everyone. I can't help but feel that over the past decade or so many rules have been changed to accommodate a certain hemisphere and counter another. Perhaps I am wrong but I somehow don’t think so.
2 Go to commentsNoted some excellent defensive steals from the Rebs last week against the Reds, largely J Canham, I think. It’s not a Rolls Royce but they are a real threat with their defensive line out at the beginning matches. What do you make of Canham Nick, WBs squad material?
86 Go to comments