Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans is confident he can keep his game at a high-enough level this season to fend ofxjmtzywf Nathan Cleary’s advances and retain the halfback jersey for Australia.
The pandemic has meant the Kangaroos have not played a single match since 2019, but the Australian national side’s drought will finally come to an end at the World Cup in October.
Coach Mal Meninga declared earlier in the week that Cherry-Evans was the frontrunner to don the No.7 at the tournament despite Cleary finishing second in last year’s Dally M race and guiding the Penrith Panthers to the premiership.
The incumbent halfback, Cherry-Evans said Meninga’s show of faith was reassuring.
“I feel as though (Mal) wouldn’t make those comments unless the footy was there to back that up,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I’ve been really proud of the way I’ve played the last few years. Understandably, Nathan Cleary’s got a heap of credit for the way he’s played.
“But I certainly haven’t lost any confidence in where I stand when it comes to the level of footy I’m playing.”
The likes of Cooper Cronk and Jonathan Thurston previously forced Cherry-Evans out of the national side, so the 33-year-old knows nothing is guaranteed when it comes to representative footy.
“I know exactly how hard it is to get in and how easy it is to get out,” he said.
“One thing that I have learned throughout my career is that every season and every game you continue to earn your spot.
“I’m looking to earn my spot in Origin this year and I’m looking to earn my spot in the Australian side by the end of the year.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in making sure that I’ll play a high level of football to get there.”
Australia will have gone almost three years without an international match when it runs out for its first game at the World Cup. Cherry-Evans said NRL players were raring to be unleashed on the world stage after going such a long time between drinks.
“Players are talking about the thirst to play for their country. That’s the pinnacle,” he said.
“This World Cup will be so exciting. There’s going to be some great footy that’s played before then, but I think a lot of people have got that pencilled in for the end of the year.”
Cherry-Evans could well go head-to-head with a very familiar face at the World Cup.
His return to form was one of the feel-good stories of 2021 and now Kieran Foran, Cherry-Evans’ partner-in-crime at Manly, looks a strong chance to line up for New Zealand again.
Not since 2014 have the two mates squared off in an international match, and both agree they’re long overdue for another meeting.
“To be honest, we still smile about it, and go, ‘How good was that, that two mates got to play international footy against each other on the biggest stage’,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I’m sure ‘Foz’ will back me to make the Aussie side and I’ll back ‘Foz’ to make the Kiwi side. That’ll come off the back of a really good season for Manly, I daresay.”
From injury and off-field struggles to a great season for Manly last year, Foran’s return to national colours would be the perfect final chapter in his redemption story.
“It’s always a huge honour to get picked in represent your country. Doesn’t get any bigger than that,” Foran said.
“So playing in the World Cup and being a part of that side is definitely a goal of mine for this year.
“But I know there’s a fair bit of footy to be played before then.”
