NRL 2022: Kieran Foran makes big call on World Cup halves

One veteran playmaker reckons Australian coach Mal Meninga has an easy choice to make on who should wear the No.7 jersey at the World Cup.

Kiwis legend Kieran Foran has no doubt long-time halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans should be the halfback for Australia at this year’s World Cup after he steered Queensland to a famous win in Wednesday’s State of Origin decider.

The No.7 jersey is going to be the hottest talking point in the coming months but Cherry-Evans looks to have his nose in front after he outplayed Blues halfback Nathan Cleary in the biggest game of the year.

While Cleary has been the form player in the competition for the past few seasons and will likely be the Kangaroos halfback for many years to come, Cherry-Evans is the incumbent and has done nothing to lose the jersey, according to his Sea Eagles teammate.

Daly Cherry-Evans is the early favourite to be the Kangaroos halfback. Picture: AAP / Dean Lewins

“I think he’s earned that jersey, especially after his performance in the Origin decider,” Foran told NCA NewsWire.

“He’s been playing exceptional footy for us all year and he’s led us around the park, and I thought he really stood up when it mattered most for Queensland. Being the incumbent, he’s done nothing wrong to lose that spot.

“He led from the front and played such a pivotal role in that game. I thought his performance was outstanding and it was so good to see the smile on his face at the end of the game.”

Sea Eagles fullback Reuben Garrick also said he believed his skipper should be the Kangaroos halfback later in the year when coach Mal Meninga picks his squad.

“I think Mal loves a bit of loyalty,” Garrick said.

“Daly kicked NSW off the park and showed some smarts when their backs were against the wall. I think they’ll definitely both be in the squad with Munster in the six, but I think there’s no shadow of a doubt that Chez will get the nod.”

It’s usually hard to get a read on Cherry-Evans, but the man with the best poker face in the business let his guard down after the epic win at Suncorp Stadium, even shedding a few tears in an interview after full-time.

DCE can’t hide his emotions after a shock win. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

Foran said it was easy for someone in that position to be emotional, given everyone had written off the Maroons and Cherry-Evans, who turns 34 next year and is nearing the end of his representative career.

The Sea Eagles five-eighth said he’d gone through something similar when he got to represent New Zealand last month. The veteran is unsure whether he’ll get many more games at international level and that’s why he’s cherishing each opportunity he has to pull on the Kiwis jersey.

“As you come towards the back of your career, you never know when your last game is going to be or if you’re going to get another opportunity to play at that level. I took it in a lot more than when I was at the start of my career,” he said.

“As anyone gets older, you get this feeling that time is ticking and you start to cherish things a little bit more.

“You could certainly see that with him this year. He’s always been a passionate guy and someone who cares a hell of a lot about his footy, but this year it’s been really important for him that Queensland got the series win.”

Foran said he wanted to play Cherry-Evans one more time later this year, but he refused to look further forward to 2023 when he’s set to join the struggling Titans.

Foran isn’t thinking about the Titans for now. Picture: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

There’s plenty of unrest on the Gold Coast and it’s unclear whether coach Justin Holbrook will be their coach next season, but Foran says his focus is solely on the Sea Eagles.

“I’m not even thinking about next year,” he said.

“It’s off the grid for me, so my full focus is on what I need to do here.

“What’s going on up there is on them for this season.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Kieran Foran makes big call on World Cup halves