'They just couldn't get the job done': Cameron Smith's telling comment as Maroons urged to 'pull the trigger' on DCE
Updated . First published at
Phil Gould believes that Queensland will "have some nightmares" as pressure mounts on captain Daly Cherry-Evans after their poor game one performance.
After failing to score a try in last year's decider, the Maroons only managed to score one on Wednesday night and it came off the back of an error from Latrell Mitchell.
The lacklustre attack will need to be rectified in time for the must-win game two clash in Perth in three weeks from now, with Cherry-Evans potentially facing the axe.
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Tellingly, when asked on Nine's post-game show if DCE or any of the other key position players should be dropped, Cameron Smith said it would be a "temptation".
Daly Cherry-Evans runs the ball against the NSW Blues Getty
Tom Dearden looked sharp off the bench for Queensland, filling in at hooker and adding spark that Queensland lacked when he was sitting on the bench.
Speaking post-game, Andrew Johns said it was time for coach Billy Slater and the selectors to "pull the trigger" and leave the 36-year-old captain out of the side.
"Big decisions to be made by Billy [Slater] with where he does go," Johns said.
"No one beats Father Time and DCE is 36, so I think they need to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in ... but I don't know where the improvement comes with this group."
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Slater was non-committal when asked about whether he would make changes, with long-time teammate and Maroons icon Smith agreeing that the spine "couldn't get the job done" and leaving the door open for Cherry-Evans to be tapped on the shoulder.
"There's always that temptation and Billy will have that discussion," he said.
"There's no doubt that the key position players of Queensland lacked a bit of cohesion. In the crucial moments of the game, they just couldn't get the job done.
"The telling point for Queensland again tonight is we only scored one try, coming off game three last year where we didn't score a try."
Harry Grant had a tough night at the office Getty
Cherry-Evans wasn't alone when it came to a disappointing display from the spine, with Harry Grant producing what was perhaps his worst game at State of Origin level, while fullback Kalyn Ponga was incredibly quiet with ball in hand.
When asked about his spot in the team moving forward, the veteran halfback pointed out the early penalty count and errors as the reason for the clunky attack.
"With losing comes the questions," Cherry-Evans said.
"We've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions, but I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it.
"When you're ill-disciplined, you put yourself under a lot of pressure. Starting next game with better discipline is definitely gonna help us."
Cameron Munster was perhaps the best of the spine, but even the livewire five-eighth couldn't orchestrate points for the Maroons in the 18-6 defeat at Suncorp Stadium.
While there could be plenty of changes made by the Maroons heading into game two, former Blues coach Gould questioned whether that would make any difference.
"What they [NSW] have achieved is shattering Queensland," he said post-game.
"I think Queensland are really gonna have some nightmares over that game. I just don't see any answers for them, I don't see any answers in the selection room.
"The individual players and the team are gonna need to play better. In all the important parts of the game tonight, they were just outpointed tonight.
"I don't know that they've got it in them to come back from that."
