If Daly Cherry-Evans ends his NRL career the way he began it – with a premiership – the 15-year gap between the feats would be the largest in history.
When he burst onto the scene for Manly in 2011 and won a grand final, the youngster from Redcliffe couldn’t have imagined just how hard that success would be to replicate.
Now, 352 first-grade games later, the only current player born in the 1980s pauses to consider how sweet it would be to finish as a winner.
“Bloody oath it would be,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I don’t know if anyone has done that, have they? First and last? There’s just been a big gap between winning them.”
Cherry-Evans was 22 when then-Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler handed him his debut. It was a season to remember.
“DCE” was crowned rookie of the year, scored a try in the grand final win over the Warriors, and became the face of the NRL, alongside halves partner Kieran Foran, at the 2012 season launch.
In those days, perhaps rugby league appeared a cinch?
“The best way I can explain it is you just don’t know. It’s as simple as that,” Cherry Evans said.
“You don’t know it at the time. My first four years, I was part of a fantastic Manly side. We were a top-four side regularly, and that was normal – and I didn’t know any better.
“But what the rest of my career has taught me is how special those years were. To be in such a great side with so many good players, it’s given me a really big appreciation for this finals series, knowing how hard it is to come by these opportunities.
“I guess that’s why I’m so focused and determined to make this one count.”
The Roosters have significant obstacles to overcome for Cherry-Evans to get to another decider, beginning with Sunday’s clash against Penrith at CommBank Stadium. Should the former Queensland and Australia half finish a winner, he will surpass Luke Lewis’ gap of 13 years between premierships.
While the Hull FC-bound veteran doesn’t want to spend too much time reflecting until his career is over, he understands how rarely finals opportunities come along.
“If you look back on it all, it is easy to sort of go, ‘Oh, it’s crazy to think this started in 2011,’” Cherry-Evans said.
“But I guess I’ve always had a really clear mentality on making sure I do my best for every season I’ve got the opportunity to play in. I don’t believe I’ve wasted many of my years in the NRL. That’s not to say I’ve got it right all the time, but I think for the majority, I’ve applied myself the best I can.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really appreciated being part of a finals series. The last one I got to play in was 2023, and then before that, 2021. Before that, I think it was even further away. So it hasn’t been as frequent as when I first started, which I believe makes you more appreciative when you get there.”
There are many reasons for the 37-year-old’s longevity. Looking after himself physically, knowing when to switch off mentally and a decent dose of luck have played their parts.
“I don’t feel as old as I am, if that makes sense,” he said.
“Is there some genetics involved? Of course there is. But I think at the end of the day, my mentality keeps me pretty young, I reckon. I’ve never believed I know it all, so I’m always learning, which then always gives me something to go after each week as a player.
“I’ve always loved game day. Game day for me is still my favourite day of the week. There’s a genuine love there for the game and competing on game day, going out there with the team and trying to get a win. All of those things have stayed pretty true through most part of my career.
“Some things definitely have changed physically, right? I’m not the same as what I was six years ago, I get that. But I guess that’s when you have to tap into the other parts of your game as a player to keep up with the competition.”
While his NRL career will soon be over, Cherry-Evans’ playing days aren’t with one final season in the English Super League. While the Roosters were open to keeping him for another year, the chance to experience life in England won out.
“It’s just going to continue to challenge me, simple as that,” he said. “Not just on a footy aspect, but on a family level, moving over to the other side of the world.
“That’s going to all add to the experience, and it’s going to create lifelong memories for not just me as a footy player, but for my family as well, which I’m pretty excited about.
“I have barely even thought about it … After I signed and announced it, I honestly parked it. It’s one of the great strengths of professional athletes – to compartmentalise things. It’s literally just been put to the side, like it’s not even there, which is the way it has to be done, I reckon, to succeed now.”
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