‘Massive decision’ looms for Slater as Qld coach urged to have tough conversation with DCE

Queensland coach Billy Slater is facing a series-defining decision regarding Daly Cherry-Evans — and has been urged to have a difficult conversation with his skipper.

Cherry-Evans was well below his best in Queensland’s Game One loss, raising questions over whether Slater should shake-up his halves and bring in Tom Dearden at the expense of the 36-year-old.

The veteran playmaker has captained his state to three series wins but there’s a belief that the uncertainty around his future is impacting his ability to deliver for Queensland.

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Cherry-Evans dropped a bombshell a couple of months ago when he revealed he would not be at the Sea Eagles next year after 15 seasons on the northern beaches.

While it’s been widely speculated that Cherry-Evans will end up at the Roosters, he’s stressed that he’s in no rush making a decision.

But that mystery could be what costs ‘DCE’ his beloved Maoons jersey.

“Is it that no one knows what DCE is doing? Is he uncertain about his future? Can he clear that up then come into camp and lead us? That’s the question,” Queensland great Gorden Tallis said on NRL 360 when asked about Cherry-Evans’ form.

News Corp journalist Brent Read responded saying Cherry-Evans “has to” get clear on his future before game two and Slater should give him a nudge to do so to avoid any unnecessary distractions.

“I think you can see that this has played on his mind,” Read said.

“His form has dipped ever since he came out and said he was leaving Manly and you can’t tell me that this hasn’t affected him.

“I think he’s carried it into camp and I think he just needs to make (a decision). He’s got two weeks — make a call, make your decision.

“I think Billy encourages him to make the call but ultimately he can’t make him make the call.

“Get it done because it’s the first thing asked in camp — what are you doing next year?”

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Cherry-Evans’ underwhelming performance on Wednesday night has put him in the pressure cooker with even Queensland legend Cameron Smith one of the many who are unsure whether he should get picked for game two.

That selection question was put to the panel by NRL 360 host Braith Anasta with Read choosing to back Cherry-Evans but suggesting he gets given an ultimatum.

“Before the series I thought if they lose game one, he’s gone, but I’d pick him,” he said.

“He’s your captain, he deserves to play game two because the forward pack let him down the other night so I’d pick him.

“I’d pick him but I’d say ‘this is very clear, if we don’t win, we’re starting again, you’re gone. This is it’.”

Tallis agreed and pointed to other times when Queensland greats were put on notice.

“I can agree with that because Darren Lockyer got tapped on the shoulder in 2006 and Mal Meninga spoke to him, Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price and said ‘if we don’t win, this is your last game for Queensland’. Maybe do something like that and say ‘do you want it or not?’” he said.

Tallis admitted it’s a “massive decision” for Slater to make around his halfback, while James Hooper believes there’ll be a heap of pressure on the Queensland coach if he gets it wrong.

“Everybody likes and respects Billy Slater. He had a red-hot start to his Origin career as coach, he won four out of his first five games,” he said.

“But since then, with Michael Maguire coming in last year and the result from last night, Billy’s hit some challenges and if he was the NSW coach he’d be copping a lot more heat than what he’s copping north of the border.

“So the decision around Daly is critical because if he doesn’t get it right then all of a sudden that’s two series’ in a row that he’s lost.”