Cherry-Evans says he’s ready to fly after being all Coop-ed up
DALY Cherry-Evans says his lack of success at Origin was because he tried to be Cooper Cronk instead of himself.
The Queensland halfback spoke yesterday about his long-awaited recall to the Maroons team, following persistNEW ent rumours that he was on the outer with team officials and senior players.
He has been rewarded with the spot because of his form and experience and the playmaker knows this is his chance to stamp his authority as the possible long-term No.7 for Queensland.
Cherry-Evans, 29, racked up six Origin games between 2013 and 2015 before dropping out of the 17.
In those games he did play, he featured just twice at halfback, filling in for Cronk on both occasions. He partnered Johnathan Thurston in the halves but said he felt too much pressure from within himself to play like Cronk.
His three-year exile has taught him that the only player he can be is himself and that is what he will bring in his return to Suncorp Stadium next week.
“I have to be myself and play to my strengths,” he said.
“I certainly got lost in trying to be someone else last time I was playing and that was down to how much respect I had for the people that were playing and the people’s spots I was filling in for.
“Every time I played (at halfback) … I just felt as though, in my own head, I felt I was just filling a spot.”