Buzz: Moment Daly Cherry-Evans proved why Roosters are right to sign him

Dropped by the Maroons, criticised for derailing Manly’s season — Daly Cherry-Evans has been a human punching bag for much of this season, but a magic moment against the Storm reminded both his current and next club of his worth.

Daly Cherry-Evans has been a human punching bag for much of the season.

Accused of wrecking Manly’s season with his announcement on live TV that he was to quit the Sea Eagles after just four rounds of the competition.

Some, myself included, questioned his right under the circumstances to retain the Manly captaincy.

Then the 36-year-old halfback was blamed for Queensland’s loss in the opening State of Origin game and sacked from the team.

The scapegoat.

He didn’t complain. He didn’t whinge. He copped it on the chin and quietly went about his business.

Daly Cherry-Evans has quietly gone about his business and got Manly back on track. Picture: NRL Photos

To help rebuild what was looking like a shaky season for the Sea Eagles as pressure mounted on coach Anthony Seibold.

On Saturday Manly travelled to Melbourne to play Storm, the premiership favourites, at AAMI Park.

In arguably their best win of the year, it was DCE who made the difference with one incredible tackle in the second half that ultimately decided the game.

An 84kg halfback stopping a rampaging 118kg Nelson Asofa-Solomona, one out, close to the line.

Daly Cherry-Evans with a brave tackle on Nelson Asofa-Solomona

It was like a RAM ute heading straight at a pushbike.

Big Nelson was entitled to trample straight over the top of him.

It was an extraordinary play.

A moment that completely defied the laws of physics and gravity.

It’s these sorts of big moments that have defined Cherry-Evans’ career over 15 seasons of NRL.

The golden point field goals.

State of Origin two years ago and that phenomenal chase down of Blues centre Stephen Crichton to save the game for the Maroons from an impossible position.

They’re the plays that change games.

And the ones that show why the Sydney Roosters have shown absolutely no buyer’s remorse for signing the veteran halfback.

Everyone knows the deal was done months ago.

But everyone was questioning why the Roosters actually wanted him.

Not when they had Sam Walker, Hugo Savala, Sandon Smith and Toby Rodwell coming through.

Friday and Saturday night at least gave us a better understanding why.

The Roosters had an off night against the Sharks and lacked direction.

In fairness Walker is just returning after 12 months on the sidelines and is still getting back into his groove. It takes time after an ACL.

As for Manly, their turnaround in form has been so impressive.

To think they were beaten 26-22 by Newcastle and then 28-8 by the Gold Coast Titans in round 15.

Their season was going nowhere.

They have a couple of byes and expected wins over lowly placed Wests Tigers and South Sydney.

Then DCE lines up against Jahrome Hughes, the Dally M champion, and Queensland skipper Cameron Munster in Melbourne.

You look at the reaction from Tom and Jake Trbojevic when he makes the big tackle.

They looked so pumped. It lifted the entire team.

If Manly can make the top eight and go deep into the finals we’ll look back at that one tackle as a season-changing moment.