LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Matthew Johns has suggested that Daly Cherry-Evans' removal from the Queensland State of Origin team may have been aimed at boosting Cameron Munster's performance.
This comes after Cherry-Evans, who has 26 games of experience, was dropped by coach Billy Slater mid-series-the first captain to be axed in such a manner this century.
In Game 1, NSW dominated Queensland, with both Cherry-Evans and Munster failing to create effective plays against a solid NSW defense.
Cherry-Evans particularly struggled to keep pace and did not manage to devise strategies to overcome the relentless NSW line.
The introduction of Cowboys half Tom Dearden for the final 20 minutes of the game noticeably improved Queensland's attack.
Dearden is now set to partner with Munster in the halves, suggesting Cherry-Evans' Origin career might be drawing to a close.
Johns speculates that Slater's decision could be driven by a desire to elevate Munster's game by giving him the captaincy.
Prior to Game 1, Munster was seen as a pivotal player for Queensland, especially after missing the previous year's series.
Despite his past accolades in the Origin arena, including multiple player-of-the-match awards, Munster was unable to make an impact due to the forwards' dominance from NSW.
Johns expressed his belief on SEN Radio, stating, "I reckon dropping DCE, part of it is wanting to give Munster the captaincy." This reflects the idea that the coaching staff sees potential in Munster stepping up as a leader to energize and direct Queensland's attack more effectively.