’Fessing up on loss role
MANLY skipper Daly CherryEvans has chosen to man up and take responsibility for his team’s disappointing round one loss to Wests Tigers.
Open and honest, CherryEvans was highly critical when self-analysing his performance which saw Manly fall 20-6 at Leichhardt.
While not absolving teammates for the poor defeat, Cherry-evans was quick to blame his own performance, citing poor defence and an ineffectual kicking game.
Manly five-eighth Kane Elgey also spoke about his first-up performance for Manly.
“On an individual level, I certainly have to take responsibility for my role in the loss,” Cherry-evans said.
“I feel missing an important tackle in the game was something that let our side down but also with the ball, end of sets with our kicks, we can certainly improve.
“One thing I have learned over time is that as a younger kid, I used to take the full responsibility for losing. But I am always my harshest critic.
“What has helped me develop my game is understanding exactly what my role was and where I didn’t play well. There was a missed tackle there that I was really filthy about and my kicking game was really poor, which left us in some pretty tricky situations.
“I will learn from those and make sure I improve this weekend. We were all really disappointed in our games from a halves standpoint. It’s only round one but there are still plenty of areas for us to improve.
“We have identified where we can improve and myself and Kane will take full responsibility on where we can improve. The spotlight won’t just be on me but halfbacks in general after a win and a loss.
“When you take the good times, you have to accept the bad times.”
Elgey added: “We have reviewed the game and you look at (Benji) Marshall and (Luke) Brooks (Wests Tigers haves), they just outplayed us. This weekend we have to go out there and perform, especially after last weekend.”
Cherry-evans knows his side must improve against the premiers, Sydney Roosters, this Saturday afternoon at Brookvale.
The Roosters will be hurting and hungry too after a round one loss to Souths. In July last year, the Roosters thumped Manly 56-24 at Brookvale. And the Roosters will send out a world-class halves pairing in Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary.
Elgey said: “The Roosters are coming off a loss as well so it’s going to be a big one at Brookvale.”