By Christian Nicolussi
In 327 NRL games, and 25 Origins for Queensland, Daly Cherry-Evans has only lost his cool once on the football field.
Cherry-Evans shoved Stephen Crichton during Origin II earlier this year before a melee erupted in the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Stephen Crichton clash during Origin IICredit: Nine
Crichton was later seen laughing and telling Cherry-Evans to think before he reacted so quickly.
The mood was much lighter between the pair when they met at Monday’s NRL finals launch – and Cherry-Evans knows the importance of keeping his emotions in check when Manly and Crichton’s Canterbury clash in a sudden-death final before 50,000 mostly Bulldogs fans on Sunday.
Crichton laughed when reminded he had been the only one to date to get under the skin of the unflappable halfback, and told this masthead: “He’s been in the game a long time, and I have so much respect for him. That was just a case of both of us competing for the win that night.
“It’s funny, every time I’ve intercepted the ball against him, he’s been the one who has caught me every time.”
Footage of Cherry-Evans mowing down Crichton in Origin II last year at Suncorp Stadium after he had spotted the centre a huge lead went viral.
Cherry-Evans was certain he had lost his cool more than once, and said: “Ask my kids if dad ever gets angry.
“It’s probably not the only time I’ve got upset. It’s only because it was an Origin game it was more noticeable. And that incident was less to do with me and more about our whole [Queensland] team needing to stand up that night.
“I know I got up and pushed him, but there was a lot more that had happened that game, and I felt like someone needed to push back.
Stephen Crichton and Daly Cherry-Evans were all smiles at Monday’s finals launch.Credit: Kate Geraghty/SMH
“We’ve played against each other over the years on different arenas. He’s a massive competitor, we’ve shaped up a few times, but there are not too many more respectful players after a game when you shake hands, and it’s all said and done.”
The Sea Eagles had no problems dominating the physical battle against Canterbury less than a fortnight ago. Dogs hooker Reed Mahoney is one of the most pesky players in the NRL, but was on the back foot all night and too tired to niggle his opponents.
Cherry-Evans said the huge vocal crowd that night gave them a taste of what to expect inside Accor Stadium this weekend, and it would be foolish to think a similar game plan would lead to the same result.
The skipper added the return of Tom Trbojevic was a huge boost, but it was on the rest of the team to aim up.
“Tommy is a great inclusion for us, but we need to make sure 12 other blokes on the field are having a crack,” Cherry-Evans said.
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