Daly Cherry-Evans facing Origin dilemma as brutal Billy Slater call could loom in 2025
The Maroons halfback is looking at making a big representative call.
Daly Cherry-Evans' future in State of Origin could be a major talking point in 2025 with Billy Slater potentially facing a huge call on replacing the Queensland halfback. Recently, Ben Hunt admitted he will weigh-up his future in the representative arena having just joined the Broncos in the twilight of his career.
And while Hunt has admitted he has a decision ahead, the captain of Queensland has remained quiet over his Origin future. Cherry-Evans will have tuned 36 years old by the time the next Origin game is played.
While the likes of Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk played for Queensland well into their 30s, both called time on their rep career to focus on club footy. And question remarks are growing around whether Cherry-Evans will put his hand up for one more series after 22 games in the Maroons jersey.
Manly will be hoping they are a premiership chance in 2025 having finished the season strongly under coach Anthony Seibold. Although reports are already circulating about what happens when Cherry-Evans retires with suggestions Tom Trbojevic could move into the halves.
Cherry-Evans reportedly put a hold on contract talks with the club as he waits to see how his 2025 season turns out. While Cherry-Evans is still playing at a very high level, this could be a clue into what he is thinking in terms of State of Origin.
And speaking on SEN Radio, Michael Carayannis was full of praise for Manly's squad heading into the 2025 season. "They have players that are about to hit their peak. Such a complete squad. In terms of roster builds, they are locked in..." Carayannis said.
But Smith questioned the long-term position of the halfback role with Cherry-Evans facing a big call. "Daly Cherry-Evans not playing State of Origin? The one part of that roster you look at is and go 'your halfback is 35,'" Smith questioned.
Carayannis agreed if Cherry-Evans opts out of Origin it would help the veteran not having to play 20-plus games in a season at 36 years old. This would only benefit Manly and their premiership push. "That would be huge...but he hasn't looked like a 35-year-old. He is still elite. He is still in the top four halves in the game," Carayannis added.
While Cherry-Evans will play for Manly, there is no guarantee he will look to get back at NSW in Origin. If both Hunt and Cherry-Evans opt out of the Maroons, Slater will have to replace two veterans who have played in the spine across many series wins.
Daly Cherry-Evans dilemma prompts halves conversation
One solution thrown around when Cherry-Evans retires is moving star fullback Trbojevic into the halves. This would see him make the switch like Darren Lockyer did for the Broncos and play at five-eighth. Luke Brooks would then play at halfback in place of Cherry-Evans.
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And Scott Sattler thinks Trbojevic can succeed as a half and follow the blueprint Lockyer set out. "I can see Tom Trbojevic imitating Darren Lockyer," Sattler said on SEN on Tuesday. "If DCE retires, I can see Trbojevic moving to five-eighth and Lehi Hopoate into fullback!"
"A lot of people said that (it wouldn't work) about Darren Lockyer and he won the Golden Boot in two positions. People said it would be a mistake for Darren Lockyer but he became the best two-position player in history. The best two-position player we have ever seen. To go from fullback to five-eighth and win a golden boot, win a comp as both fullback and five-eighth."
