NRL 2024: Daly Cherry-Evans defends David Fifita’s decision to backflip on joining Roosters
Daly Cherry-Evans became one of the most reviled figures in the game when he backflipped on joining the Titans in 2015. Now the Manly captain has backed his QLD teammate David Fifita following his signing U-turn.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has backed his Queensland Origin teammate David Fifita in the wake of the Titans forward’s shock Bondi backflip.
Cherry-Evans admits he felt a sense of deja vu when he was inundated with text messages on Wednesday morning following revelations Fifita had reneged on his Roosters deal to stay at the Titans.
In 2015, Cherry-Evans had agreed to join the Titans, even formally signing a contract, only to backflip on the Gold Coast and ink a new deal with Manly.
At the time, NRL rules allowed a player to change their mind before round 13 and such was the firestorm triggered by Cherry-Evans’ backflip, the governing body amended its contracting laws.
Cherry-Evans became one of the most reviled figures in the game, with the Queensland Origin playmaker famously booed by Broncos fans at Suncorp Stadium days after his decision.
Fifita was jeered by Titans fans making his first hit-up last week, but Cherry-Evans believes the Maroons back-rower will be forgiven by Gold Coast supporters if he delivers on the field.
“I’ve been in Dave’s shoes. My phone lit up with my mates reminding me of what I had done,” said Cherry-Evans, who went on to sign an eight-year, $10 million lifetime deal at Manly.
“I can understand it would have been enticing for Dave to go to a really strong club like Penrith or the Roosters.
“Sometimes the hardest decisions to make won’t make other people happy but you have to trust you are doing things for the right reasons.
“The best response is through your footy. The fans just want to see you play well.
“After all the decisions were made and the dust settled, people just smile about my decision now and it’s because I repaid the Manly people and hopefully the people of Queensland.
“You won’t make everyone happy. You can’t make everyone in this world happy.
“There will be Roosters fans who will be disappointed but Dave just has to repay the Titans fans and I’m sure he will do that.
“I have no doubt in his ability, I love playing alongside him at Origin level, he is an absolute beast, so I’m glad he has made a call on his future.”
Labelled a Titans turncoat at the time, Cherry-Evans was derided for many years, but the tide began to turn when he skippered Queensland to their famous series defeat of the Blues in 2020 during the Covid crisis.
The Roosters are privately seething at Fifita’s actions – the club claims his agent made the first move – but Cherry-Evans says he isn’t totally shocked by the Titans forward’s change of heart.
“It would have been extremely tempting on a footy level,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I was excited for him on a footy level but I wasn’t super surprised he stayed because I know playing Origin with him how much Dave loves Queensland.
“The time I spent with him, I know how much he loves his family and Queensland is where his family is.
“There’s so much more that goes into playing footy when you have to move to Sydney to play NRL. It’s an entirely different lifestyle.
“I think someone has explained to him that you will be moving away from your family and all those things start to play on your mind.
“It would have been a huge move for him to Sydney. You know what Sydney can be like. It has a different dimension to Queensland. There’s more stresses and it’s a place where you can get super busy and distracted really quick.
“I reckon Dave has had time to think about what’s best for him and his family. He is a Queenslander through and through and he is entrenched around the Gold Coast with not just the Titans but with his family.”
With the passing of time, Cherry-Evans is adamant he made the right call to remain at Manly and the Maroons skipper believes Fifita will feel some relief.
“For me, there were no regrets,” he said.
“I went through some tough times.
“There are ways in which I could have handled things differently, but as a young dad at the time, I was trying to do the best with the situation that was in front of me.
“Obviously, I could have handled it better, but as for the ultimate decision and where I ended up, I am super proud that I made the tough decision. Staying at Manly was the best thing for my career.
“Obviously, the decision for Dave will cause headlines.
“I have been through it before, so I can understand where Dave is at, but no two situations are the same.
“As long as Dave is happy, that’s the most important part and that will get lost in a lot of the talk around the situation.
“In rugby league, we love talking about and dissecting other people’s business but I have no problem with what he has done.
“I hope Dave and his family are happy with his decision, that’s all that matters.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2024: Daly Cherry-Evans defends David Fifita’s decision to backflip on joining Roosters
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.