After a disappointing performance in the opening game of this year’s state of origin series, Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been unceremoniously dropped and is unlikely to represent his state again. The 19 time Queensland captain deserves a more dignified ending and pushing him out the side without addressing other glaring issues in the team is an unjust end for the Maroons legend.

Despite the narratives and stories about ruffling the feathers of members in the Queensland hierarchy, Daly Cherry-Evans has been the steady leader Queensland has needed since the retirement of Smith, Cronk, Slater and co. Handed the captaincy in 2019 ahead of the likes of Ben Hunt, Cameron Munster and Dane Gagai he has been able to guide the next generation of Queensland talent into the state of origin arena successfully. Daly Cherry-Evans is the fourth most capped Queensland captain behind Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis, he deserved to go out on his own terms.

The fact Billy Slater swung the axe on his head and the bench second-rower only, makes the optics of this coaching decision hard to understand. The Queensland forward pack was dominated throughout the entire match and arguably, it was Daly Cherry-Evans kicking game that kept them in touching distance for a large part of the game. The attack wasn’t flowing but that is unfairly being attributed to Cherry-Evans rather than other members of the spine who were equally lacklustre.

If Billy Slater thinks Tom Dearden is going to be the better choice for Queensland with their backs against the wall, then he’s obviously got to make the tough decision, but it’s a hard one to warp your head around. Dearden is every bit a state of origin player and will prove to be strong enough at this level, but throwing him in the deep end to try and claw back the series for Queensland is putting a lot of expectations on a young mans shoulders. Daly Cherry-Evans isn’t going to get the send off he deserves for Queensland, and it’s a similar fate he is facing at club level.

For Manly it has obviously been an ongoing discussion between Daly Cherry-Evans and club about their respective positions moving forward. Clearly, Cherry-Evans hasn’t been completely pushed out of the club, and he has more autonomy on the future of his club playing career, but there is still a sense that he deserves so much more. Whether it’s for club or state Daly Cherry-Evans deserves a better farewell than what he has been given. Whilst his career isn’t over yet there is a bitter taste about the way these two chapters appear to be closing.