Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans won’t be influenced by Wednesday night’s result, with speculation the State of Origin decider could be the 35-year-old’s last one for his beloved Maroons.
After coming in and out of the side for a number of years, Cherry-Evans has been a mainstay in the Queensland side since he took over as captain in 2019, with the veteran halfback to play his 18th consecutive match for his state on Wednesday.
He is still one of the best playmakers in the NRL, with the Sea Eagles star named man-of-the-match in the series opener after he led his side to victory in Sydney.
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Cherry-Evans has the chance to lead his state to a third series win in a row, and regardless of the result at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland’s captain has assured the public that he won’t be making any rash decisions over his playing future.
“I promise you there won’t be an announcement. (When) I will be sailing off into the sunset, people won’t know until the off-season,” he said, with the halfback playing some of his finest footy for his club side.
“I won’t want any special treatment for that sort of stuff.
“I don’t make these decisions during the year. I do my best thinking in the off-season but while I am in the thick of it I am just going to keep enjoying it.
“I love this job and it is crazy that I even call it a job. I love everything that comes with it.
“I don’t need a fairytale to finish.
“I am playing for reasons. I enjoy and love the game and I love playing for Queensland. There is also my family that enjoys watching me play for Queensland.
“For as long as I am good enough to hold a spot in this team, it will be very hard to pass up in the future.“
There was a time when it looked like Cherry-Evans would play only a small part in the Origin story, with the chief playmaker playing only two games from 2015-2018.
But he’s now one of the first players picked and is keen to stay on if his form warrants it, with the Maroons not lacking any depth with Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Ezra Mam and Sam Walker all fighting for spots in the halves.
“I got dropped (in 2015) and wasn’t playing well enough to keep a spot in this side. I earned my spot back (in 2018) and I have literally played every game like it is my last,” he said.
“I have been doing that for nearly six years now. I know I am getting old and retirement becomes a bit of a talking point but I don’t have any special news for you.”
While everyone knows what to expect from Cherry-Evans, it’s unclear what role Kalyn Ponga will play in the series decider after the Dally M winner was named on the bench having only just returned from a long-term foot injury.
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Selwyn Cobbo’s role was questioned in game 1 but it proved to be a masterstroke after Reece Walsh was knocked out, with Ponga sure to cause NSW nightmares if he comes on when the Maroons are on top.
“We are going to encourage everyone and particularly Kalyn, when he comes on, to just play footy. It’s his strength,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Some stuff you just can’t script. Sure we will want to put some pieces together for him and some framework but ultimately his best footy is when there’s a quick play-the-ball and off he goes.
“I watched him play (for Newcastle) in his first game back and it is hard not to be excited watching Kalyn Ponga play. He is a great footy player.
“If we can get him in some opportunities and positions on the field that he is familiar with then he is a really hard person to take down.
“He is a run option. He is a pass option and can pop up in the back of shape and challenge people directly. I am really excited Kalyn is back in this arena and looking forward to playing alongside him on Wednesday.”