Roosters recruit Daly Cherry-Evans insists his return to Manly should not be viewed as a “negative”, amid ugly suggestions he’ll be booed by the Sea Eagles faithful on Thursday night. The former Manly skipper is comfortable with whatever reception he receives when he runs out at 4 Pines park as an opposition player for the first time, after a decorated 352-game NRL career for the Sea Eagles.
Far from shying away from the spotlight ahead of the Round 4 grudge match, DCE is embracing the occasion. So much so that he even made the move in pre-season to approach Roosters officials to volunteer for media duties in the lead-up to the hotly anticipated clash.
Roosters recruit Daly Cherry-Evans is unfazed by suggestions he’ll be booed by Manly fans on his return to 4 Pines Park as an opposition player. Pic: Getty
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that Cherry-Evans spoke with Roosters staff weeks before donning the Roosters jersey for the first time, and put his hand up to front the media ahead of Thursday night’s game. It comes after the Manly premiership winner announced on live TV early last year that he was leaving the club after 15 seasons, in a move that divided fans.
“It was a conversation… I had a really strong belief that there was nothing to hide around this,” Cherry-Evans said ahead of his return to 4 Pines Park. “This isn’t something to build up in a negative way, this is actually a really positive thing… going to Manly [as the opposition], it’s not a bad thing.
“I’m sure at some stages this week certain parts of the media might make it seem like a bad thing, but I can promise you it’s not a bad thing. It’s a part of the game, right? It’s very rare, people staying at one club for their whole career. Teams build rivalries based on players changing clubs. The opportunity to go back to a place where I’ve spent 15 years of my career is really exciting.”
DCE ready for the boos on his return to play against Manly
DCE is unfazed at suggestions he’ll be booed by sections of the Manly crowd on his return. He still lives in the area with his family and the veteran is comfortable with the relationships he’s developed with Sea Eagles fans over more than a decade.
“That’s not to say some people there might be a bit more negative,” he added. “But overall my relationship with the hill has been awesome the whole way through. It’s not to say people won’t boo, but I’m very, very comfortable with so many friendships and relationships I’ve got with the Manly fan base.”
Former teammate Tom Trbojevic stopped short of asking home fans not to boo the veteran when he runs out for the Roosters. But the Sea Eagles skipper hopes DCE will be shown the respect he deserves as “one of our all-time greats” and the club’s most capped player.
Manly captain Tom Trbojevic (second from L) hopes Sea Eagles fans show former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans (L) respect when he returns to 4 Pines Park for the Roosters. Pic: Getty
(Matt King via Getty Images)
“I can understand it in the sense that he played for us and now he’s playing for a different club,” Trbojevic said. “I’m not going to tell anyone what to do. If they’re going to boo him, they’re going to boo him, it doesn’t matter what I say…
“I think the (Manly fans) should cheer him, what he’s done for this club. He’s played 350-odd games for us and has been one of our all-time greats.” Both teams will be desperate for the two points, with Manly coming off the bye after back-to-back defeats and the Roosters 1-2 to start the new season after being thrashed by Penrith last week.