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Sport Nation
Fletch: Why Billy Slater has me worried for Origin II
SEN • June 11th, 2025 12:27 pm
Billy Slater’s smarts as a coach should worry NSW Blues players and fans, according to Bryan Fletcher, who believes the Maroons coach will spring a few surprises in Origin Game II next week.
In an unprecedented move, Slater dumped captain Daly Cherry-Evans from his squad for the second clash of the 2025 series, one of many changes made to the Maroons team that will travel to Perth.
Cherry-Evans becomes the first captain to be dropped mid-season since Queensland axed Trevor Gillmeister 30 years ago.
Cowboys’ captain Tom Dearden is the preferred halfback for Billy Slater’s side in Perth, with his sensational club form, and Queensland’s large loss in Game I, the catalysts for Cherry-Evans’ removal.
Titans’ second rower Beau Fermor has also been axed, with Bulldogs' utility Kurt Mann to make his Origin debut on the interchange and Warriors' veteran Kurt Capewell recalled.
Controversial Broncos playmaker Ezra Mam has been added to the 20-man squad, along with Raiders' prop Corey Horsburgh and Storm centre Jack Howarth.
Analysing the changes to the Maroons, Fletcher said he was a little worried about what Slater was seeing.
“They’re going to be desperate,” he said about the Queensland side.
“The thing with Billy, far be it for us to question the DCE thing, Billy is a student of the game and I’m worried (about) what he has seen.
“I can't see Carrigan coming off the bench unless he think he needs more thrust coming off the bench, but Billy is a very smart coach so that’s probably my worry, he’s got a few surprises up his sleeve.”
Cameron Munster will become the 16th captain of Queensland in Game II.
Munster will play his 20th Origin game in Perth and is regarded as a great of modern State of Origin contests, winning the Wally Lewis medal as a member of Queensland's "worst ever team" in their historic 2020 series victory.
He joins an illustrious group of captains featuring legends of the game including Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer, Mal Meninga, and Arthur Beetson among many others.
