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- Playmaker was emotionally drained after his exit from Manly Sea Eagles
Footy star Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed the reason he sought professional help after more than 15 years in the NRL.
The oldest player in the competition, Cherry-Evans, 37, has a CV many would envy.
A premiership in 2011 with the Manly Sea Eagles, a Clive Churchill Medal winner two years later – in the losing side – plus 26 Origin appearances for Queensland and 21 Tests for Australia.
But a bitter exit from Manly – where he spent 15 seasons – was draining in an emotional sense, so ‘DCE’ privately sought answers.
‘I felt like, ‘Do you know what? I’m gonna go and see someone and start to talk about a few things and see where it goes,’ he told News Corp.
‘I just thought it was the right time to go and ask a professional about a few things.
Footy star Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed why he sought professional help after more than 15 years in the NRL (pictured, with wife Vessa)
A bitter exit from the Manly Sea Eagles – where he spent 15 seasons – was draining in an emotional sense, so ‘DCE’ privately sought answers (pictured, ahead of his Roosters debut)
In good news for Roosters fans, their team hasn’t clicked yet – and once they do, Cherry-Evans will be a key figure as the club chases their first NRL premiership since 2019
‘I went in there with an open mind and I loved it, and it was great.’
The father of three moved to the Roosters in the off-season, and has formed a strong combination with Sam Walker in the halves.
On Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Allianz Stadium, Cherry-Evans will play in his first ANZAC Day fixture for the Tricolours, a feat he would have scoffed at in previous years.
He reportedly felt ‘disrespected’ by a $600,000 offer to stay at Manly, and infamously appeared on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy last March to confirm he was leaving Sydney’s northern beaches at the end of the season.
At the time, NRL Immortal Andrew Johns was stunned at the Sea Eagles attempting to low-ball Cherry-Evans.
‘If he went on the open market, he could get $1.3 [million], maybe even more,’ Johns said on Wide World of Sports.
‘He’s very durable and during his career, he’s only missed 20 games. It goes to show how professional he is and how smart he is, he keeps himself out of big contact.
‘You don’t do that [low offer] to someone like Daly.’
The veteran playmaker eventually accepted the outcome – and quickly bonded with his new teammates when he completed the 96km Kokoda Trail across seven gruelling days in December.
He labelled the experience ‘physically and mentally challenging’ but rewarding at the same time.
In good news for Roosters fans, it is clear their team hasn’t clicked yet after seven rounds – and once they do, Cherry-Evans will be a key figure as the club chases their first NRL premiership since 2019.
