Queensland and Manly star fails to finish his side’s big win over Canterbury.
Queensland playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans has given himself an outside chance of playing for the Maroons in the second State of Origin despite coming the field in Manly’s win over the Bulldogs.
The classy halfback carried a knee injury into the game and Maroons coach Mal Meninga and Sea Eagles leader Geoff Toovey had their hearts in their mouths when Cherry-Evans stays down after having his legs taken out from under him during a kick.
Canterbury prop Sam Kasiano was placed on report for the tackle but not before Cherry-Evans showed that if fit, he will be a more than handy replacement to Cooper Cronk for Queensland.
The rising star of the NRL laid on three tries in 10 minutes to help set his side’s 32-10 over ladder leaders Canterbury.
But when he was helped from the field in the second half the worst was feared.
In the sheds after the game the Manly medical staff were confident that Cherry-Evans had not done further damage to the area.
“I’m confident it’ll be right,” Cherry-Evans said. “I’ll rest up and take it easy and should be sweet. [My performance] was off the back of all the hard work our big boys did in the middle, which led to a great result tonight.”
The Bulldogs, who have lost their last two games after winning seven on the trot, were outplayed by Manly according to Blues five-eighth Josh Reynolds.
“They beat us in all the little things,” Reynolds said. “We knew coming here that it was going to be a slog.
“It was hard but everyone from our side tried their guts out. At times we were trying a bit too hard. They scored a couple tries off kicks but that’s no excuse.
“We’ll have to come back and nail the little things that we have been doing all year.”
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