Daly Cherry-Evans could see the sparks of success at Manly next season
Daly Cherry-Evans knows the rugby league world expected little from Manly this season but the Sea Eagles skipper believed the seeds of success were sown last year when the club finished a lowly 15th.
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Despite being dismissed pre-season as finals contenders, Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans forecast success at Brookvale as far back as last season, when Manly finished 15th.
“Call me crazy, but I did believe — it’s not a shock. I’m not taken aback by what has happened this year,” Cherry-Evans said.
With Trent Barrett gone and Des Hasler back in charge, Manly is remarkably running fourth with just three premiership rounds remaining.
The Sea Eagles’ top four spot goes firmly on the line in another big match this Sunday afternoon against Canberra at GIO Stadium.
“All the ingredients were there. Anyone who saw us play last year…while we didn’t get the results, you couldn’t honestly say when you were watching us that we didn’t have ability and talent,” Cherry-Evans said.
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“But a few alternations to our playing group, some outstanding contributors, a new coach and it has all come together. That’s why I’m not surprised. I could see it all last year. I could see it there.
“It would have been hard for other people to understand because of where we finished but I was a believer, even last year. Des has played a big role and everyone has enjoyed his style and method of coaching. It has really rubbed off on the whole group.”
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic also saw positive signs emerge last year.
“I knew we had a really good side here and the coaches have done a really good job in bringing us together and getting the best out of us, that’s why we are winning more games than we are losing,” Trbojevic said
“I know externally people didn’t give us much of a chance but I knew that we had a team here that could win some games.”
Canberra surged back from 18-0 down to overcome Melbourne at AAMI Park last weekend in a win that announced the Raiders as genuine premiership contender.
“I definitely like the style of footy they are playing. It’s very uncompromising, they play tough and there is certainly a lot of strike in their side. The basis of their game is around effort and having a tough mentality,” Cherry-Evans said.
Manly forward Jake Trbojevic added: “It’s exciting but we’re only just in there (top four) on for and against. It’s a big one this week down in Canberra. We have tough run home so we just have to keep working hard,” Jake said.
“Canberra have been outstanding, they have shown a lot of resilience. They recruited extremely well, right across the board. They are really tough football side.”
Originally published as Daly Cherry-Evans could see the sparks of success at Manly next season
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