Ricky Stuart has suggested Queensland have broken their pick-and-stick culture by punting skipper Daly Cherry-Evans for State of Origin II to play Tom Dearden at No.7.
Maroons coach Billy Slater will on Monday morning confirm his 20-man squad for the Maroons’ must-win clash, with Cherry-Evans will be missing from the side.
Titans second-rower Beau Fermor has also been dropped, with Kurt Capewell returning to the side and Kurt Mann the new No.14 with Dearden at halfback.
Ezra Mam is also set to be named as a reserve as part of an extended squad, just three NRL games after his comeback from a drug-driving ban.
The Broncos 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.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh and Melbourne centre Jack Howarth are the other reserves, after the Maroons were beaten 18-6 in the series opener.
Cherry-Evans’ sacking has created shockwaves, with the Manly halfback the first Maroons captain dropped mid-series in almost 30 years.
Stuart had a subtle dig at Queensland before the team was announced over the possibility of axing DCE.
“Queensland have got this culture of they pick and stick,” the former Blues halfback and coach.
“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.
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.
Tom Dearden scores a try against Wests Tigers. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Dearden has scored four tries for the Cowboys, set up 11 and created 16 linbereaks, bettering Cherry-Evans’ numbers at Manly in all categories.
Queensland dropping Trevor Gillmeister when he was captain 1996 is the last time the Maroons have axed a captain mid-series.
Storm captain Harry Grant is the likely replacement as Maroons skipper.
NSW last year made the call to drop reigning captain James Tedesco for Origin I, before recalling him through injury and then leaving him out again for Game 2.
The Maroons are also confident prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will be fine to play, despite suffering a knock in the Titans’ loss to Brisbane on Saturday and requiring pain-killing injection to his sternum at halftime.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was adamant Dearden should be Slater’s man.
“I know he’s ready,” Payten said. “Selfishly, I want him to come off the bench. But if they want to win you put him in the halves.”
Maroons Origin II team
To be confirmed at 9am
Blues vs Maroons at Optus Stadium: 8pm, Wednesday June 18
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Xavier Coates
3. Robert Toia
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Valentine Holmes
6. Cameron Munster
7. Tom Dearden
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Reuben Cotter
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Kurt Mann
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Kurt Capewell
17. Trent Loeiro
18. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
19. Jack Howarth
20. Ezra Mam
with AAP
