Ricky Stuart has suggested Queensland has broken its pick-and-stick culture by dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans for State of Origin II to play Tom Dearden at number seven.
Maroons coach Billy Slater on Monday confirmed his 20-man squad for the must-win clash, with Cherry-Evans missing from the side.
Second-rower Beau Fermor has also been dropped, with Kurt Capewell returning to the side and Kurt Mann the new number 14, with Dearden at halfback.
Ezra Mam has also been named as a reserve as part of an extended squad, just three NRL games after his comeback from a drug-driving ban.
Ezra Mam has been included in the Origin II squad, having played just three games since his ban from the NRL. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
The Brisbane five-eighth will undergo scans on Monday morning in order to be cleared to join camp, after suffering a knock to his knee on Saturday night.
Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh and Melbourne centre Jack Howarth are expected to be the other reserves, after Queensland was beaten 18-6 in the series opener.
But it is the dropping of Cherry-Evans that has created shockwaves, with the halfback the first Maroons captain dropped mid-series in almost 30 years.
Speaking before the 36-year-old’s non-selection was confirmed on Sunday, former Blues halfback and coach Stuart had a subtle dig at those north of the border.
“Queensland have got this culture of they pick and stick,” the current Canberra coach said.
“They’ve got this culture that they talk about in regards to, you know, hanging tough in tough times.
“So I think that Cherry-Evans will keep his position unless they’re going to break their culture.
“[Otherwise] they’re going to break their attitude in regards to what they’ve been promoting for so many years.”
The Maroons have long preached about a pick-and-stick culture, which was evident through their dynasty between 2006 and 2017.
Stuart coached NSW in two of those seasons, falling to series losses in 2011 and 2012.
Blues players were also surprised when told of Cherry-Evans’s omission on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s their call,” second-rower Liam Martin said.
“Obviously they were disappointed with the first game. That’s Billy’s call, it’s what they think is right for the team. But we’ve just got to respond to that now.”
Dearden has started in the halves four times previously for Queensland, after first partnering Cherry-Evans in the Maroons’ 2022 series-decider success.
The 24-year-old played five-eighth for Australia in last year’s Pacific Cup win, and has had an impressive start to 2025 with North Queensland.
Dearden has scored four tries for the Cowboys, set up 11 and created 16 line breaks, bettering Cherry-Evans’s numbers at Manly in all categories.
Slater defends Mam selection
Meanwhile, Slater defended picking Mam just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add something to Queensland’s squad.
Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday’s must-win clash.
The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October.
Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter.
Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January.
Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection.
“He’s the right person for that position right now,” Slater said.
“I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
“He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here.”
Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly.
But Slater said there was no question over whether the star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad.
“Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don’t think he has skipped a beat,” Slater said.
“By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out.
“He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented.”
QUEENSLAND SQUAD FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II: Kalyn Ponga, Xavier Coates, Robert Toia, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Harry Grant, Moeaki Fotuaika, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, Pat Carrigan, Kurt Mann, Lindsay Collins, Kurt Capewell, Trent Loiero, Ezra Mam, Jack Howarth, Corey Horsburgh.
AAP
Discover more from BrandedNepal | Shop Nepal’s Best Local & Global Brands
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
