Cherry-Evans is expected to join the Sydney Roosters on a one-year deal next season. The club and player have stayed quiet,just like 2017 when the Bondi club and Cooper Cronk remained tight-lipped until the respective club’s campaigns were over.
He finished the night with a left-footed field-goal from 19m out. It was the 29th of his career. The 17,172 fans also got a glimpse of the future with teen playmaker Joey Walsh debuting on the hour mark.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks.Credit:Getty Images
Even at 36,Cherry-Evans still has plenty to offer in the NRL. Manly have been savaged by injuries,especially to their forwards,so you can only imagine what DCE might do next year behind a fit and firing pack.
When asked if he had any regrets he would never pull on the maroon and white again,Cherry-Evans said:“I think it’s really important to acknowledge that I might not be finishing here,which is a lot of people’s wishes,but I will finish my career how I want to finish it.
“I get it will make people disappointed and angry and frustrated,but that’s life.
“I won’t be looking back,that’s for sure.”
Cherry-Evans received a warm send-off from the fans,just as he did 13 days earlier when he celebrated his 350th game.
The Warriors will limp into the finals,but the fact they will host an elimination game in Auckland is just reward for their first half of the campaign.
Coach Andrew Webster and Fisher-Harris both conceded few people on this side of the Tasman would give the Warriors a chance of progressing beyond week one.
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“No-one has given us a chance since day one,we’re used to that,” Webster said.
“We believe what we can do in that dressing room. Back home,all our fans believe it. We’ll have a full house at Mt Smart Stadium.
“Lots of people at the start of the season would do anything to have a home semi.
“I just said to the boys,‘we’re in control of this’,we’re the ones beating ourselves at the moment.
“A day in rugby league is a long time,let alone a week. If we play our best football,let’s see where it takes us.”
Fisher-Harris added:“No-one really respects us. Nobody gives us any hope or anything like that,and I actually love that.”