EXCLUSIVE: DCE, Hammer in the gun, Papalii told to 'come back' as Joey pinpoints five changes Queensland must make
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NSW legend Andrew Johns has run through the Queensland team that lost the State of Origin opener and pinpointed five changes he believes Maroons coach Billy Slater should make for game two.
The rugby league Immortal reiterated that captain and champion halfback Daly Cherry-Evans should step aside — a "huge call" he made on Nine's post-match coverage on Wednesday night — and identified an additional four changes he thinks Queensland must make for its do-or-die June 18 clash.
The Maroons lost 18-6 at Suncorp Stadium and must now win in Perth to keep alive their hopes of wrestling back the Origin shield.
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DCE out, Dearden in
Cherry-Evans didn't have the luxury of playing on the back of a dominant forward pack in game one. The Blues' pack, led by front-rower Payne Haas in a man-of-the-match performance, churned out 1753 run metres to the Maroons' 1425.
But Cherry-Evans failed to limit the damage in the middle of the park with his kicking game. The 36-year-old kicked nine times for 262 metres; five-eighth Cameron Munster, who usually leaves the bulk of the kicking duties to Cherry-Evans so he can focus on his superb running game, produced 12 kicks for 338 metres.
Cherry-Evans' quiet game, his age and the Blues' emphatic win have led to calls for the Manly skipper to call time on his illustrious 26-match Origin career.
"No one beats father time," Johns said on Nine's Immortal Behaviour.
"Unfortunately, every champion comes to the end, and I think Daly has come to the end ... which is a massive, huge call ... I think the decision has to be made on the halfback."
Daly Cherry-Evans runs the ball in game one. Getty
Johns reckons 24-year-old Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden, who played 27 minutes off the bench in game one, should replace Cherry-Evans.
"He's the future," Johns said.
"You've got to put him in some time ... It's his time, it's his time to play halfback."
Johns also floated 31-year-old Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty as a replacement option for Cherry-Evans.
The eighth Immortal described Fogarty as a "really steady hand" and said Munster and fullback Kalyn Ponga would thrive on the back of his game management.
"It's really hard in these scenarios when the players don't do it themselves," former Blues star Allana Ferguson said of Cherry-Evans on Immortal Behaviour. "He's been Queensland's hero for how many years?"
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Tom Dearden assesses his options in attack in the State of Origin opener. Getty
Tabuai-Fidow out, Cobbo in
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's defensive read during the lead-up to Zac Lomax's second try, scored in the 36th minute, was described by Johns as "really worrying".
Playing at left centre, the Dolphins star was lured in by decoy runner Stephen Crichton. That seemingly prompted Valentine Holmes, who was on the left wing, to rush in on NSW fullback Dylan Edwards, who passed to an unmarked Lomax.
"At this level, at Origin level, to have a poor defensive read like that — it was really poor," Johns said.
He believes Selwyn Cobbo should be recalled to the Queensland side at the expense of "The Hammer".
He also thinks Cobbo should play on the left wing and Holmes at left centre.
"I think Val Holmes at clubland at centre has been doing some really good things, but they need a bigger body coming out of trouble, so I think Cobbo comes in there," Johns said.
Fotuaika out, Horsburgh in
"They need some mongrel."
Johns was talking about Canberra's red-headed cult hero, the big and bustling Corey Horsburgh, when he uttered those words on Immortal Behaviour.
He reckons Horsburgh should be recalled to the Origin arena at the expense of Moeaki Fotuaika, who had little impact in the middle of the park in game one.
Fotuaika only produced four carries and 38 run metres, and although the Titans big bopper made 35 tackles, he missed three.
Corey Horsburgh (second from right) pictured ahead of game three of the 2023 State of Origin series. Getty
Papalii, Hopgood in
"Come back, the state needs you."
Johns was talking about another Raiders cult hero, veteran prop Josh Papalii, with those words.
The legendary halfback believes Papalii and Eels back-rower J'maine Hopgood should join the bench.
He didn't name who he'd drop, but was presumably talking about back-rowers Beau Fermor and Trent Loiero.
"I think Billy needs to get on the phone and talk to Josh Papalii," Johns said.
Josh Papalii takes a hit-up in Queensland colours. Getty
Papalii called time on an admirable 23-game Origin career in 2023, but Johns, cheekily, noted that Brad Fittler and Allan Langer also retired from Origin, only to return and conquer.
Hopgood played in game one of last year's series.
"I think there's a point of difference with J'maine; he's got an offload, he's got a really late offload in his game," Johns said. "I think that can really add something to Queensland."
