With a step back against the grain, a shimmy and then a pivot around yet another hapless opponent, Daly Cherry-Evans did what he does best.
asserted
he → do → what
He finished with a grin, and a giggle, too.
asserted
He → finish → grin
Sharks fullback Will Kennedy had been left for dead more than an hour earlier when the 37-year-old masterminded the Roosters’ passage to Friday’s preliminary final date with the Dolphins.
asserted
old → leave → Dolphins
The gaggle of reporters, slow-footed at the best of times, never stood a chance, asking about the storyline that will now loom all week next to the one regarding star halfback Sam Walker’s rapidly healed ankle ligaments.
asserted
that → stand → ligaments
Especially considering Cherry-Evans’ tripping charge against Teig Wilton ended as expected on Sunday with a $1000 fine from the match review committee.
But surely, Daly, you can appreciate the narrative, the rugby league romanticism, of one last outing at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium?
asserted
you → consider → Stadium
Against the Redcliffe-based Dolphins no less, where he took those first furtive steps in rugby league as a six-year-old for Redcliffe more than 30 years ago, where his dad and uncle both played as well?
asserted
dad → base → Redcliffe
“I completely understand the sentiment, but they are just storylines,” Cherry-Evans said with a smile when his links to the Dolphins were raised.
asserted
links → understand → Dolphins
“At the end of the day, we’re playing a prelim …
asserted
we → play → prelim
At no stage have we made it about me or anyone who is leaving the club.
asserted
who → make → club
Because while those things create great headlines, they distract us from what we need to do here, which is play footy.
asserted
which → create → footy
Cherry-Evans, throughout an enthralling 16-year, 377-game career (which pushes well past 400 appearances when 21 Tests and 26 Origins are included), often inadvertently, so often has.
asserted
Tests → push → appearances
Few have provided such regular, meaty copy.
asserted
Few → provide → copy
And as for the Redcliffe connections, the 30-year-old archived photos do more justice than words ever could.
uncertain
words → archive → justice
In more recent times, the Dolphins have eyed off that cherub-cheeked kid more than once as a potential star signing.
asserted
Dolphins → eye → signing
In 2021, when he still could, Manly owner Scott Penn issued a “hands off” edict as Redcliffe hunted culture-setting marquee signings while establishing their first NRL roster.
uncertain
Redcliffe → issue → roster
When things fell apart between the Sea Eagles and Cherry-Evans, the Dolphins were one of the few clubs the veteran No.7 genuinely met with and weighed up as an option, though the Roosters were always early clubhouse leaders for his signature.
asserted
Roosters → fall → signature
Now, after more than 33,000 minutes of top-level rugby league (80 x 424 games, you can work out all the extra time), Cherry-Evans now has just either 80 or 160 minutes left in the NRL.
asserted
Evans → work → NRL
No one has slotted more field goals than Cherry-Evans’ 31 in the NRL era.
asserted
one → slot → era
But the late attempt he shanked – by his lofty standards, oh so badly – was, according to Fox Sports stats, the 50th missed one-pointer of his career, too.
uncertain
he → shank → career
It doesn’t matter in the wash of a truly glittering career.
asserted
It → matter → career
Except for the explanation Cherry-Evans offers after getting back to his best against Cronulla, with that crucial 27th minute solo try and three try assists as well.
asserted
Evans → offer → try
“You won’t find anyone harder on my own game than myself.
asserted
You → find → myself
It’s as simple as that,” he said after emerging as the last Rooster to leave Allianz Stadium.
asserted
he → ’ → Stadium
“But what happens next is if I carry my divots, I’m then not only putting myself out, but my team out [too].
asserted
I → happen → myself
The Aporia
