Sea Eagles: How Cherry-Evans embarrassed Gorden Tallis

SEA Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has embarrassed one of his biggest critics in Gorden Tallis with his scintillating form for Manly.

Daly Cherry-Evans at Sea Eagles training on Tuesday. Picture: Martin Lange.

SEA Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has embarrassed one of his biggest critics in Queensland Origin great Gorden Tallis with his scintillating form guiding Manly to their past two wins.

Tallis led with his chin in savaging Cherry-Evans after the Manly’s first two losses on Fox Sports’ The Late Show with Matty Johns.

“There’s a young guy that’s got a 10-year deal who doesn’t really care, because he can’t get moved on because he’s going to get all of his money,” Tallis claimed.

Cherry-Evans has since comprehensively outplayed the game’s best player Jonathan Thurston in Manly’s victory over the Cowboys and was involved in five tries in the 36-0 thrashing of the Bulldogs.

Gorden Tallis had a shot at Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: Brett Costello

“He’s entitled to his opinion and that’s fair enough,” Cherry-Evans said.

Asked if those comments from someone like Tallis hurt, he replied: “I’m a big boy, l’ve got thick skin around here, it’s going to take a bit more than that to hurt me.”

Few NRL players has come under scrutiny over than Cherry-Evans after he signed his multi-million dollar long-term deal with Manly.

“I accept criticism because everyone is entitled to their opinion but I make sure I’m listening to the ones that count to me,” he said.

Bulldogs skipper James Graham speaks with referee Gavin Badger as David Klemmer, (left) receives a warning for slapping Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: AAP.

Cherry-Evans also spoke about the ugly incident at the end of Saturday’s win over the Bulldogs when Canterbury forward David Klemmer slapped him in the face but surprisingly avoided being charged by the NRL Match Committee.

“There was nothing that was enticing for that to happen, it was just probably a bit of frustration from their side of things which I completely understand,” Cherry-Evans said.

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The pair didn’t speak after the game and Klemmer didn’t offer an apology.

“I wouldn’t expect that, it is rugby league, we are playing a man’s sport, I’m big enough and ugly enough to cop a slap,” he said,

“My dad hit me harder growing up.”