Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has given the ownership of the team to a polarising player

WITH Cameron Smith and a host of long-serving Kangaroos retiring from rep footy, coach Mal Meninga has anointed a new leader of the group.Interestingly, it is one of the game’s most maligned players — Daly Cherry-Evans.Cherry-Evans made his long-awaited return to the State of Origin arena in Game Three, and he was the best player on the park.But the Sea Eagles skipper’s career has been plagued by talk of personality clashes.He infamously punched on with then-teammate Jackson Hastings earlier this year, and it is widely believed
his three years in Origin exile largely stemmed from senior Maroons not wanting him in the squad.Also this year, former premiership-winning teammate Anthony Watmough opened up on his feud with Cherry-Evans, saying he “turned into a f***wit”.Greg Inglis was originally handed the captaincy of the Kangaroos before his drink-driving offence, and the honour was then handed to Boyd Cordner.And yet Meninga, sitting in the post-match press conference alongside Cherry-Evans, told reporters that it was the No.7’s team.“Daly will be our key guy,” Meninga said on Saturday.