Daly Cherry-Evans reflected on becoming Manly’s first 350 game player and revealed he still has the drive to keep playing as the Sea Eagles kept their season alive with a 58-30 win over the Dolphins.
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Manly moved to 26 points equal with the Dolphins and two points behind the eighth placed Roosters with two games remaining in their season.
Cherry-Evans has been through a tough year after announcing he would leave Manly at the end of the season and being dropped by the Maroons, but he revealed it hasn’t been as bad as everyone has made out.
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“You’d be surprised how it’s not as mentally draining as everyone thinks,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I still love every bit about working towards winning the game of footy each week with a group of people that are on the same wavelength.
“It can get painted as a really crazy picture, but the reality is each week we come to work, we prepare, and we try to win games on the weekend. It’s as simple as that.
“And we haven’t won as many as we would have liked. There’s no doubt about that. And we’re the first to admit we want to be higher on the ladder and all those sorts of things.
“But the reality is, it’s usually never as bad as it seems. But I still love it. Everyone in there, the way they showed up today, shows that we still care.
“So it was a really big game for us today and on more than just my milestone, like where our season was at, so to see the fight was really cool.”
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Manly are at long odds to leap the Roosters into the finals, but if they win their last two games they will give themselves a chance.
“It’s really hard to reflect on what could have been when you’re still in the fight,” Cherry-Evans said.
“So we’ve got to keep fighting. The reality is, whether it’s a slim chance or not, it’s a chance and that’s all we need.
“And today was a great set for us forward and we back it up next week and who knows what happens here in Brookvale in the last round, so the next one’s important, though.”
Cherry-Evans was pressed if he would be death-riding the Roosters against the Eels.
“Oh, yeah,” Cherry-Evans said.
Cherry-Evans revealed he would have retired a long time ago if he lost the playing group at Manly or the support of his family.
“I would have given up long ago if I had have lost support from family and friends,” Cherry-Evans said.
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“If at any stage you felt like I lost the locker room and the support of the team and the club, you stop a long time ago. You just don’t keep pushing.
“But when you’re around good people, when you’re around people that are striving to be better every day and you’ve got your friends and family along for the journey, it’s really hard to give up, so today was a special day.”
Brookvale was rocking and Cherry-Evans revealed days like the win over the Dolphins make it hard for him to walk away from footy.
“That’s why we play for days like today,” Cherry-Evans said.
“In moments, for me, on a personal level, yesterday with my girls being a big part of the Jersey presentation, that’s why you play.
“The hill was pumping. We were scoring points. You know, they love big tackles. We had a few nice big tackles from some of the boys. It’s why you play.
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“The competitive side of you just wants to win every game. And then there’s a family side of me, which is so appreciative of what I’ve got at the moment with my girls, and they’re along for the journey and friends and family.
“So today ticked a heap of boxes on a personal level, and on club level, so can’t complain.”
Manly coach Anthony Seibold was full of praise for Cherry-Evans and proud of his captain and the team for turning up for the Sea Eagles legend.
“It’s just a great celebration for Chez’s 350th,” Seibold said.
“First player to play 350 games for our club and a club that’s got a great history, so we want to celebrate that. And I feel like the players went and did that.
“I was really proud. I thought we’d get a response from the group. When you work with the group every day, we know what’s going on behind closed doors.
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“But what happens is when you’re not playing great, it opens up criticism and that’s the nature of the game and that’s rightly so when you’re not performing.
“But I just knew that the group were going to turn up and play for Chez.
“I’m proud of Chez the way he has stayed at his prep and it has been tough, so I’m really proud.”
On a sour note Cherry-Evans copped a knock to his nose, but joked he would have needed surgery after his retirement anyway.
“It’s never been in good shape to be fair to start with, so it’s in worse shape now,” Cherry-Evans joked.
“I don’t have the answer. It’s a retirement job for when I finish, I need some help.
“My wife is going to be very happy for me to go out tonight, because no one’s coming near me.”
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