Manly star believes he’s cherry ripe for return to the big time
DALY Cherry-Evans has appealed for Queensland selectors to end his three-year exile, declaring he is Origin-ready as Maroons hierarchy come to terms with the shock departure of Cameron Smith.
Cherry-Evans will get a golden chance to impress Queensland coach Kevin Walters when the Manly skipper takes on a Storm side missing the suspended Smith on Saturday night at AAMI Park.
It has been almost three years since Cherry-Evans last wore his beloved Queensland jumper. Ironically, the most recent of his six Origin games was at the MCG, the scene of this year’s series opener on June 6 and the iconic venue where Cherry-Evans failed to steer the Maroons juggernaut.
Axed following a 26-18 loss to NSW in June 2015, CherryEvans has lived with years of criticism and innuendo. He’s heard the whispers. That his game isn’t suited to Origin football. That he never jelled with Johnathan Thurston or Smith. That his personality doesn’t fit into the tight-knit Maroons family.
Two years ago, as Queensland began grooming the next generation of leaders, it was Smith himself who rated Cherry-Evans a future Maroons captain. Now, with Smith vacating the throne, Cherry-Evans believes he can bring some leadership and playmaking skill to the depleted Maroons.
“I think I’m ready for Origin,” he said.
“Every year I put goals down on a piece of paper and playing for Queensland is on my list this year. That won’t change until the day I retire.
“We have a lot of options in Queensland and some great halves playing some good football, so in the next fortnight I need to press my case and stay focused for Manly.
“Hopefully off the back of that Origin selection comes ... one day.”
Cherry-Evans can be a polarising figure but there could be no disputing the masterclass he dished out to Brisbane to engineer Manly’s 38-24 rout at Suncorp Stadium last Saturday night.