Daly Cherry-Evans reveals he wants to coach Manly after he retires
Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed his ambition to get into coaching once his player career finishes - and the Sea Eagles skipper dreams of coaching Manly most of all.
Sea Eagles
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sea Eagles. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SUSPENDED: Brown out until the finals
SHARK ATTACK: Cronulla look for their identity
Daly Cherry-Evans has given fleeting thought to life after his playing career comes to an end. He likes the idea of coaching. More than that, he likes the idea of coaching Manly.
“The older I get, the more I get attached to the game and the more I don’t want to leave it,” Cherry-Evans told The Saturday Telegraph.
“Obviously if I am going to retire and go into coaching, it would be great to stay at the one club. There are not many jobs out there when it comes to coaching and it would be silly for me to think I will walk into something.
“I don’t know where rugby league is going to take me, but I hope whatever lies ahead is with this club, whether it is playing or even something post-rugby league.”
Cherry-Evans has plenty of years left but he has already spent time under some of the game’s smartest coaches. He has had two stints with Des Hasler, has nothing but praise for Trent Barrett and has tasted representative football alongside Mal Meninga and Kevin Walters.
“I love the strategy to it,” Cherry-Evans said.
Stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14 day free trial.
“Having some really good coaches in my career, I feel as though it puts me in a pretty good position to implement that to the playing group.
“It is obviously easier said than done — you only have to look at how quickly an NRL side can spit out a coach.
“So I am not naive to not understand how hard it would be. But the challenges that come with coaching appeal to me.
LISTEN! In this week’s episode of the Matty Johns Podcast, Matty, Kenty and Finchy look at the challenge confronting the Knights, name their team of the decade and ask who wins an NRL coaches fight night.
Subscribe to the Matty Johns podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
“There is more to the job than what you see in the papers and on TV. All of that stuff behind closed doors — I like the look of it.”
For the moment, his focus is on Manly and helping the Sea Eagles finish in the top four. They head into tomorrow afternoon’s game against fellow top four aspirants Canberra in the nation’s capital with their destiny in their own hands.
Another win would edge them closer to a double chance in the finals and affirm their premiership credentials. Cherry-Evans has been at the heart of their success this season, having emerged from a losing State of Origin series with his form intact.
“That is one thing I have definitely learnt to deal with — losses,” he said.
“We have enough going on here to keep me motivated. I love my job and I love my role in the team at the moment.
“If I was to drop my head and feel sorry for myself, it is only going to be detrimental to the side and the side means too much to me to do that.”
Now 30, Cherry-Evans has also begun to apply more thought to what he wants to leave behind when his playing career is over. He wants his legacy to extend beyond premierships.
“I would love that legacy to be seen when it comes to grand finals and things like that,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I also want to make sure that I maximise my opportunity to play for my country and my state. If I am playing rep footy, it obviously means I am playing well at club.
“I would also like to leave an impact on the playing group, the standards we are trying to set at training. There is a lot more than the game day.
“Hopefully I am playing a role and a positive role. My personal motivation is always going to be so high, but it is always my desire to see this club do well.
“I spend a lot of time here, I am going to continue to spend a lot of time here. It would be a real shame not just for me, but for this club to have no success moving forward.
“I want to be a big part of this club’s success and pushing back into finals is a big step in the right direction.”