Speaking on the Nine Network's post-game coverage, Johns was unimpressed with the flat performance of the 36-year-old, who on Wednesday night became the oldest player in State of Origin history.
Cherry-Evans' flat performance was symptomatic of the lack of intensity throughout the majority of the Queensland side, who lacked the spirit and energy befitting of the occasion in a match where only New South Wales' poor kicking accuracy prevented a much wider margin than the 18-6 scoreline.
"If they (New South Wales) were on tonight, they'd win by 40 or 50," Johns said after the match.
"They left so many tries out there and they'll be better for that.
"This group here (Queensland), I don't know if they can go up another level."
When announcing his imminent departure from Manly earlier in the season, Cherry-Evans then expressed reservations about whether he would be physically and mentally up for the challenge of one final Origin series, but promised he wouldn't be going out half-heartedly.
"Big decisions need to be made by Billy (Queensland coach Slater) and nobody beats Father Time. DCE is what, 37? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in. But I don't know where the improvement from this group comes from."
Speaking on Triple M's radio broadcast, former Queensland player Shane Webcke agreed that the Maroons need to move on from Cherry-Evans.
“I just feel like he’s at that point of his career and when you see him with Cameron Munster tonight, the magic wasn’t there and that worries me.
“I hate to suggest that about a bloke like Daly Cherry-Evans.
“I feel like at the end of the last series, we probably missed an opportunity with a bloke like him, he’s 36 years old, the opportunity was probably there to reinvent a bit.
“I think we might pay a price for not having done that.”