SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Daly Cherry-Evans of the Maroons celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during game one of the 2022 State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on June 08, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been here before – ready to lead his makeshift Maroons in a crucial decider, just as he did in 2020.

But this time he’ll have to do it without his partner in crime Cameron Munster, and there’s much more than interstate pride on the line.

Heading into his 13th consecutive Origin appearance as Maroons halfback, Cherry-Evans’ leadership and experience will be crucial to the hopes of a Queensland side starting as underdogs despite the weight of history in their favour.

In 2020 DCE captained a side featuring four debutants – Corey Allan, Harry Grant and Edrick and Brenko Lee. Despite their inexperience and the stakes, the captain led his team to a famous series victory.

With a host of absences and changes to both line-ups for the decider, it’s familiar territory for the Maroons.

Though subsequent series’ have seen a back-and-forth rivalry established with Blues opposite Nathan Cleary, a lack of international football since 2019 has rendered the contest of little consequence – until now.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 15: Daly Cherry-Evans in action during the Australian Rugby League Nines team training session at Old Saleyards Reserve on October 15, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

With a Rugby League World Cup at the end of the year, Cherry-Evans and Cleary are now competing for the Australian No.7 jersey, and Cherry-Evans knows that incumbency counts for little on the back of Cleary’s outstanding Game 2 performance.

“Whether Nathan is or isn’t the front-runner for the World Cup, I can’t control what he’s doing. The only thing I can control is my footy and I’m proud of how I’m playing in this series,” Cherry-Evans told the Daily Telegraph.

“If I can keep improving and playing well, I’ll back myself to be there at the end of the year for Australia.”

While an October trip to England is an enticing reward, the Maroons captain is fully focused on the task at hand.

“I remember the spirit we showed in the 2020 decider and I believe we can do it again.

“My message to the guys is that we cannot stop believing for one second. We can’t give NSW a sniff of victory.”

The initial Kangaroos 50-man World Cup squad is expected to be named after the completion of the Origin series, despite initial requests from organisers for submission by June 22.