DALY Cherry-Evans has pledged to give Sam Walker an apprenticeship for the Queensland No.7 jumper, with the veteran skipper determined not to leave the Maroons in a playmaking hole when he eventually retires.
Queensland’s fusion of old and new were on display when Cherry-Evans and Walker featured in the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII 64-14 win over Papua New Guinea at Suncorp Stadium.
Incumbent Test halfback Cherry-Evans lead from the front with a brilliant performance, while Walker scored a try in his first game in the green and gold as the Aussies begin warming up for the upcoming World Cup.
For Maroons fans, it was an early glimpse of Queensland’s playmaking future, and the passing of the baton that could take place in the coming seasons.
Cherry-Evans turns 34 in February and while the Queensland captain has no intention of retiring from Origin football ­– he is contracted to Manly until the end of 2025 – ‘DCE’ accepts he is in the twilight of his decorated career.
The 20-year-old Walker was invited to Camp Maroon this year by new Queensland coach Billy Slater and Cherry-Evans is ready to step-up his mentoring role to ensure a smooth succession plan.
“Sammy was involved in this (year’s) series and you can only hope that when he was in camp he was learning a heap from myself and Cameron Munster and our coaching staff,” Cherry-Evans said.
“There is no doubt Sammy’s ability is pretty top-shelf. He is one of the brightest kids in the game.
“I am glad he is a Queenslander. I can only hope that I can have an impact in him taking over the Queensland halfback spot one day.
“It is not for me to say who is the next Queensland halfback. But if they do earmark him as that player, then I would love to play a role in helping him to develop.”
A veteran of 19 Origin matches, Cherry-Evans will clinch the ‘Tosser’ Turner Medal as a 20-game servant by turning out for Queensland next season.
If he plays another three full series for the duration of his NRL contract, Cherry-Evans could finish with 27 games for Queensland – a remarkable statistic given his three-year absence from the Maroons between 2015-18 when Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk reigned supreme.
Cherry-Evans put aside criticism of his form to skipper the Maroons to a famous series victory this year and the 283-game Manly legend vowed to fight tooth-and-nail to remain Queensland’s top dog at halfback.
“I am so honoured to be the Queensland captain and when you are involved in a series like we were this year it just makes you so humble,” he said.
“I am so lucky to be Queensland captain and I will take great pride in doing it for as long as I can.
“I know when my time is up I will have a close enough group around me to tell me that is my time and to step aside.
“As far as I know, I will be back there next year and I will have another crack at it.”
Walker is relishing wearing his maiden green-and-gold PM’s jumper alongside Cherry-Evans and says his experience in Camp Maroon was an insight into the winning mentality of the Queensland’s elite players.
“The Origin camp was an awesome experience for myself,” he said.
“Just to see the way everyone prepares and the belief everyone has in the Queensland team.
“It’s definitely something I took back to clubland at the Roosters, and I used it at the back end of the season to help us get to the finals.
“I learnt the belief they have in winning. The Queensland guys just have total belief in winning and the way they prepare to play and the way they talk about the game is just as important as playing it.
“It’s happened so quickly for me. Two years ago I was finishing up at school at Ipswich Grammar, then last year was madness in my rookie year and now I’ve had a call-up to this Australian team and been part of a Queensland Origin camp.
“I am ready for whatever happens, 100 per cent. I will continue learning about my game and I will put in whatever work I have to to become an Origin and Australian player.”