DCE’s display even earns Sticky’s praise
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.