Daly Cherry-Evans blasted over 'arrogant' Origin swipe at Mitchell Moses
Origin fans have been left divided over the comments from the Maroons skipper.
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been accused of being "arrogant" and "cocky" after delivering a not-so-subtle warning to rival NSW halfback Mitchell Moses, ahead of State of Origin Game II at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night. Moses has been picked to replace injured Blues half Nathan Cleary, with NSW attempting to rewrite history by winning in Queensland to save a series for the first time in Origin history.
The task is already a daunting one for Moses and the Blues, who will go into the do-or-die clash - in front of a packed crowd at Queensland's Suncorp cauldron - as decided underdogs. Moses returns for his second Origin appearance after also being selected as Cleary's injury replacement for the dead rubber third game in 2021, with Cherry-Evans wasting little time to get into the head of his rival.
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Speaking at Maroons camp this week, the Queensland skipper warned Moses that playing for your state is a "step up" from what he's used to and form in the NRL simply "doesn't' cut it" in the Origin arena. It was rare to see a player address a rival as directly as DCE did, with the panel on NRL 360 presenting mixed reactions to the interview.
“I think it’s a little bit cocky, I think it’s a little bit arrogant but given the position they’re in — he’s played 20 State of Origin games for Queensland now,” Fox League's James Hooper said. “I think what’s a little bit cocky about it is that he knows Mitchell Moses is only entering his second State of Origin game, it’s at Suncorp, he knows that hostile environment he’s going to be walking into, so I think by him throwing it out there, it’s a smart bit of berley in the water.”
QLD greats love DCE 'mind games'
Maroons greats Gorden Tallis and Billy Moore, as well as former NSW player Braith Anasta saw it differently though, and argued that Cherry-Evans had enough runs on the board for the Maroons at Origin level to warrant the comments. All three men thought it was refreshing to see a player take a dig at a rival in such an honest manner, suggesting that more than a few mind games were at play.
“It was said at every press conference through my Origin career but they just haven’t said anything for the last 10 years,” Tallis said. “Players haven’t gone at the opposition so it’s strange for a player but I love it.
“And I’ll tell you what — DCE would have felt that pressure. There’s no doubt he’s just returning serve. He’s sat behind Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk and there would have been question marks over him. There’s no doubt following those two legends.”
Moore added: “I think the fact DCE’s had a little bit of a chirp, what he’s done there is mind games. A little bit of doubt. The Origin arena is a different world. He’s just trying to break him down just that little bit.”
Moses' game has gone to another level after his last Origin appearance for the Blues in 2021, with the Eels half guiding his side to last year's grand final, where they finished runner-up to Penrith. The Parramatta half has shown he has the game management skills, speed, kicking game and defensive nous required for Origin, even if Cherry-Evans warned the 28-year-old that he won't be afforded nearly as much time on the ball in Origin, as he is in the NRL.
“Kick pressure is a big part of Origin and that’s one thing that is going to go up a level for sure,” Cherry-Evans said. “He (Moses) gets another chance to come back into the Origin arena." Blues fans will be hoping he can take that chance with both hands.
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