Phil Gould has reiterated his disapproval of Queensland’s decision to drop Daly Cherry-Evans ahead of the second game of the State of Origin series. Last week, as the Maroons’ team was announced, he expressed concerns over selecting Tom Dearden in place of Cherry-Evans, emphasising that a rookie halfback would struggle without a strong forward pack to support him. He remarked, "No halfback, particularly a newcomer, can perform well behind a forward line that has faced significant defeats."
On Monday, Gould continued to criticise the decision, lamenting that Cherry-Evans had not been afforded an appropriate farewell after a commendable career. He stated on Nine’s 100% Footy, "He doesn’t have the chance to say goodbye on the field after the series concludes, which is quite disappointing." Gould believes that the manner in which Cherry-Evans was dropped is rather disrespectful, and he feels it has been handled poorly.
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s match, Gould forecasts a significant defeat for Queensland, predicting a score of 40-12 in favour of New South Wales. He openly grapples with finding ways for Queensland to score, estimating they might only manage two tries, while he envisions the Blues scoring four or five. Despite the anticipation for a close contest, he doubts this will materialise, indicating a preference for a decisive win rather than a tightly contested match.