Cherry-Evans Embraces “Weird” Homecoming in Roosters Victory
Brookvale Oval – Daly Cherry-Evans, the seasoned five-eighth, found himself on the receiving end of a unique reception last Thursday night. For the first time in his illustrious NRL career, he donned a club jersey other than Manly’s Sea Eagles, stepping onto the hallowed turf of Brookvale Oval in the colours of the Sydney Roosters. Despite the “really weird” sensation and a boisterous, at times hostile, crowd, Cherry-Evans was all smiles, proclaiming he was “exactly where he wanted to be.”
The 37-year-old, a club legend and the most capped player in Manly’s history, made a significant off-season move to the Bondi club. This transition, as expected, divided opinion, and the build-up to his return to Brookie was dominated by speculation about how the Manly faithful would react to their former captain and 2011 premiership winner now playing in red, white, and blue.
While Cherry-Evans experienced a fleeting taste of the atmosphere during warm-ups, it was the commencement of the match that truly brought the emotions of the Manly faithful to the forefront. With every touch of the ball, Cherry-Evans was met with a chorus of boos, a stark contrast to the loud cheers that erupted whenever he was brought down by the Sea Eagles’ defence.
However, as the final whistle blew after 80 minutes of intense rugby league, the negative reception faded into insignificance. A triumphant 33-16 win for the Roosters left Cherry-Evans beaming. When questioned about the crowd’s response, he adopted a gracious approach, suggesting there was “no nastiness” involved.
“I appreciated it, I really did,” Cherry-Evans told Nine. “It’s a part of sport, right? There’s no nastiness to it, it’s just the game and fans are allowed to show their passion. When it’s done in the spirit of the game – no dramas.”
He added, “I’ll walk around now and say hello to a few people … nothing but love. Obviously, this is a place where I spent nearly the majority of my life, so I’ve got so many great memories here and still got some great mates in the side. It was really weird feeling being here tonight in a different dressing room and running out as a Rooster, but I’m exactly where I wanted to be and really enjoying the journey.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson echoed his star recruit’s sentiments during the post-match press conference. “There was a lot made out of it and I thought the boos were a little bit of fun and you could see people were having fun with it,” Robinson commented.
Roosters’ Second-Half Blitz Secures Dominant Victory
The Roosters found themselves trailing 10-8 at halftime, a testament to a tight first half. However, the second stanza saw a remarkable turnaround, with the visitors unleashing a devastating five-minute scoring spree. Tries from Robert Toia, Connor Watson, and Daniel Tupou propelled the Roosters to a commanding lead against a struggling Manly side.
Cherry-Evans highlighted the unwavering belief within the Roosters squad throughout the contest. “We still had a lot of belief, even though we were down on the scoreboard,” he stated. “We let in two long-range tries, so there’s a lot to be taken from the great defence other than those two plays in the first half.”
He continued, “We were quite confident that we were able to consistently play a style of footy that would get rewards late and it’s exactly what happened today. Real big credit to our coaching staff and huge pat on the back to our forward pack.”
The victory not only marked a successful return to Brookvale Oval for Cherry-Evans but also showcased the Roosters’ resilience and attacking prowess, setting a positive tone for the remainder of their season. The performance demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity and execute their game plan effectively, even when facing a vociferous home crowd.
Key Takeaways from the Match:
- Cherry-Evans’ Composure: Despite the hostile reception, Daly Cherry-Evans maintained his composure and focus, ultimately contributing to a significant win for his new team.
- Roosters’ Second-Half Dominance: The Roosters’ ability to score three quick tries in the second half was a decisive factor in the match, demonstrating their attacking firepower.
- Manly’s Struggles: The Sea Eagles, despite the home advantage and the motivation of playing against a former captain, were unable to contain the Roosters’ second-half surge.
- Team Belief: Cherry-Evans emphasised the strong sense of belief within the Roosters squad, even when trailing at halftime, highlighting the team’s mental fortitude.
- Forward Pack Performance: The contribution of the Roosters’ forward pack was specifically acknowledged by Cherry-Evans, underscoring their crucial role in the victory.
