Cherry-Evans Kicks First Ever Goal from Sideline

The Manly Sea-Eagles fought out a close victory against the Gold Titans away from home a couple of weeks ago in round 10. But apart from the win, young Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans had another reason to be smiling. In the 24th minute, after Manly’s 2nd try, Cherry-Evans slotted his first ever goal kick from the sideline. Cherry-Evans will use this feat as encouragement in an attempt to improve his success rate of 62.5%.

“ I’m really stoked, I’ve had more of a chance getting it over the posts at the wrong end of the field lately so for one to go over from the side is great.” Cherry-Evans stated in the post-match press conference.

“ I’ve been working really hard on my goal kicking over the past couple of seasons. Last year I finally perfected getting them from in front and then got fairly good from slightly adjacent. Naturally the side line was the next step up, so I’m glad to see my work paying off.”

When asked if he expected to become more consistent at his conversions from the touchline, Cherry-Evans played down the idea of becoming competent from the difficult position.

“ I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself. The kick tonight still didn’t come off the boot too well, and I probably got lucky in that the slice brought the ball back to go over. So hopefully I can fluke a few more this season and maybe even strike one properly.”

Manly have a rich history of exciting sideline converters. Cherry-Evans takes up the legacy left by Matt Orford who often struggled to make the distance from the sideline.
“It’s great to have another battler as our goal kicker” commented Eagles coach Des Hasler.

“Before this year we had Jamie Lyon doing the duties but he just did it a little bit too easily. He just didn’t have the same effect on the fans that Matt Orford did, so to have Daly come into the side and take over is a real boost.”

“Daly has a different style to Orford, while Orford’s kicks pulled up short, Daly tends to spray them miles to the left or right. The kids got a lot of potential, he’s come a long way since I saw him kick his first ever goal a couple of years ago in the under 20’s.”

When asked for a comment, Manly forward Anthony Watmough was less enthusiastic about his team-mate’s progress.

“He’s pretty shit.”

Cherry-Evans will be looking for an opportunity to make his 2nd kick from the sideline this weekend against the Broncos.