Sunday Territorian

DCE’s display even earns Sticky’s praise

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A VETERAN’S right boot and a young gun’s blazing speed provided the fizz to Manly’s attack as the ‘‘Cherry-Koula’’ combinatio­n helped the Sea Eagles defeat Canberra 25-6 in Mudgee and earned unpreceden­ted praise from Ricky Stuart.

Footy in the small NSW town has been a rare thing, but not as rare as the 20/40.

But thanks to Daly CherryEvan­s, the tally has doubled after he nailed one early in the second half.

It is only the second 20/40 kicked in the NRL after Melbourne’s Brandon Smith nailed one in the preliminar­y final loss to Penrith last year.

It was only one of a number of crafty kicks by the Sea Eagles skipper who backed up last week’s match-winning field goal with another heroic display as he kicked Canberra into submission.

Cherry-Evans’ show reel on Saturday earned praise from the opposition coach.

“The smartest play that club ever made is pinching him back off the Titans for $1m for 10 years. Everybody bagged ‘Bozo’ (Bob Fulton) for it, but it’s a masterstro­ke,’’ Stuart said.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler agreed.

“It’s those clutch moments, and that’s what he does so well,” Hasler said.

He forced an error with a towering bomb, earned a couple of repeat sets, grubbered to set up a try for Haumole Olakau’atu, landed a 40-20 and then put the cherry on top with a field goal

Tolu Koula was heavily involved and it took only 12 minutes for the left centre to justify his selection after he beat a defender and popped a pass for Reuben Garrick to open the scoring.

 ?? ?? Manly’s Tolu Koula.
Manly’s Tolu Koula.

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