Beware of Queenslanders in a state of flux. The last time the Maroons were up against the wall like right now was back in 2006 when the Blues had won three straight series and State of Origin as a concept was being read its last rites.
If the Blues had won four series in a row Origin was supposedly going to be dead and buried.
Then NSW fullback Brett Hodgson threw a wild pass out of dummy half, Maroons champion Darren Lockyer scooped it up and scored and Queensland went on to create a dynasty by winning a record eight straight series from 2006 to 2013.
There’s no question Billy Slater’s decision to axe Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland captain and halfback will define the champion fullback’s tenure as coach of the Maroons.
The normally super-professional and unflappable Slater is clearly rattled by the assignment facing Queensland off the back of Origin I at Suncorp and the two games the Maroons lost to get beaten in last year’s series.
Billy’s been on the back foot since Michael Maguire’s “glass houses” sledge last year and for a champion player who achieved as much as Slater, it’s unfamiliar territory.
Pressure is a privilege, yes. We’re Queenslanders, yes. But lose Origin II and be staring down the barrel of the first NSW clean sweep in 25 years and that’s a different beast altogether.
Still, you’ve got to give Slater credit for being prepared to make the brave call and make DCE the first Queensland captain to be axed mid-series since Trevor “The Axe” Gillmeister in 1996.
The direct, tough and unrelenting style of Tommy Dearden is exactly what Queensland need in this situation.
Speaking of Billy, his ex-Kangaroos teammate Aaron Woods didn’t miss him on his Tuesday morning breakfast radio show on Triple M.
If you haven’t seen it flying around the interwebs on Instagram yet, here’s a snippet of how Woodsy has whacked Billy.
“You’ve come out and you’ve axed your captain Daly Cherry-Evans. You said it wasn’t a scapegoat, mate it’s a scapegoat,” Woods said.
“Everywhere you look you’re not used to getting hammered in the media.
“I think the pressure and criticism has got to Billy. He’s lost three in a row Origin matches which is unheard of for Queensland.
“They’re going to Perth which is a flat track for NSW. You look at this squad – Cherry-Evans should be there.
“Well Billy you’ve just turned on your skipper. I want to see the real Billy Slater come out. The grub that we know of.
“Because this is the bloke that kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension at Leichhardt Oval.
“Everyone wants to go ‘oh he’s such a nice bloke’. Well mate you’ve won your first two series as coach.
“You’ve lost the last series. You picked a side that we all expected NSW to win 13 plus. Lucky NSW didn’t play well.
“If you lose this second series does that mean you’re going to get sacked?
“Because Kevvie Walters got sacked after two series losses and he only coached four.
“A lot of pressure on Billy Slater. I watched his body language in the press conference and he’s not a man who’s confident in what he’s doing at the moment.
“I love watching little things about Billy Slater. Every Sunday he does The Sunday Footy Show it’s him, it’s Joey, it’s Brad Fittler.
“And then after Origin I he got his little mate Cameron Smith to stand there and help defend him. It’s just so funny.
“The very interesting thing for me is do they kick off to Spencer Leniu. Billy, you can say it was a tactic as much as you want.
It was a soft option and it was a really poor excuse from you.”
That’s a heavy bake whichever way you want to interpret it.
Especially considering Woodsy and Billy both played for the Kangaroos together for five Test matches in the green and gold.
Of course it’s Origin time and allegiances are split along state lines.
And Billy enjoyed a lot of success playing for the Maroons against Woodsy.
There’s no question if Billy can get Queensland up to level the series in Perth and then go on and win it in Sydney it will rank up there with Fatty Vautin’s Nevilles of 1995 as one of the Maroons greatest victories.
What were your likes or dislikes about the Origin teams and round 14?
