Cherry-Evans opens up on dark days as Origin milestone looms

Manly Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans believes a dark chapter during his career which saw him fall from favour with angry Queensland fans was a turning point in his life.

It’s a chapter he says is part of his journey, which continues next Wednesday night in Adelaide as he leads the Maroons in his 20th State of Origin appearance in defence of the title they reclaimed 2-1 from NSW last year.

It centres around his infamous 2015 backflip on a commitment to leave Manly and sign a lucrative four-year deal to join the Gold Coast Titans as the club’s new franchise player.

Cherry-Evans opened up to BettingSite.com.au when the players entered Queensland camp in Brisbane this week, saying even now he is comfortable he made the right call eight years ago for his family’s future.

It was a messy saga that ended with Cherry-Evans accepting a massive counteroffer from Manly, who came up with an eight-year contract worth more than $8 million.

“This doesn’t look very honourable,” Cherry-Evans said at the time.

“There is only one thing that could have changed the honour of my word and that’s my family.”

QUEENSLAND TEAM NEWS: Reece Walsh set to make State of Origin debut

Cherry-Evans is not the only player in recent times to bail out of contract talks at the 11th hour.

Melbourne Storm superstar Greg Inglis did a similar thing to the Broncos in 2010 when Andrew Gee, Brisbane’s football manager at the time, thought he had hooked the biggest player in the game.

More recently another Melbourne star, Cameron Munster, left new Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett seething when he found out from the player’s agent, Braith Anasta, that he would be rejecting the club’s offer.

The thing that should be pointed out is that none of the three players mentioned broke any rules, and all made decisions to benefit themselves and their families.

“It’s a chapter, but it is an important chapter,” said Cherry-Evans when asked if there were any scars from the heavy backlash he received from Queensland fans at the time.

“It gave me so much resilience because there was so much around it, and a lot of it wasn’t positive.

“I did get crucified a bit, whether I think that is fair or not, it’s now long gone.

“The reality, though, is that it happened and I learned so much from it.”

Cherry-Evans will now retire as a one-club player, another reason that persuaded him to take the Manly offer back then.

“In the end, I took so much out of it,” he said.

“It’s a part of my story, I’m not ashamed of it at all.

“In fact, I am really proud of the player I am and really proud of the position I put my family in as well.

“It was a brave decision and, in the end, a great decision for me and my family.”

In Adelaide, Cherry-Evans will become the 32nd Queensland player to join the Dick Turner 20-game Origin club, considered a very special honour, and later this season will be the 38th player to join the NRL’s 300-game club.

“I am obviously aware of the milestones popping up this year with my 20th Origin and potentially my 300th NRL game,” he said.

“As a young fella milestones were all I ever wanted to chase, to be honest.

“But as an older fella, I am grateful for them and really humbled by them, but they are not the whole purpose of me playing anymore, they’re just a part of my journey.

“I’m going to embrace this one (20th Origin) and enjoy the moment with my family in particular.”

More sports news