This was published 7 years ago
Wounded pride driving Manly Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in 2017
Two words sum up what drove Daly Cherry-Evans to work harder this pre-season than in previous years: personal pride.
Cherry-Evans has, of course, put plenty into every summer slog, and being named skipper for this year's premiership campaign is all the more reason to lead from the front. However, it's the club's horror 2016 season, and the way he performed during it, that is spurring Manly's marquee man on to ensure there is no repeat.
"I've trained the hardest I've trained for a long time, so I can set myself up for a better season," Cherry-Evans said.
"I probably look back on the last couple of years and I haven't trained as hard as I have this year. That's not to say I didn't train hard previous years, but this year something has clicked.
Daly dose: Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is hungrier than ever after a disappointing 2016 campaign.Credit: Getty Images
"I'm hoping that sets the platform to play really well amongst my teammates this year."
Asked what was fuelling that hunger, the 28-year-old said: "Personal pride. Last year was disappointing.
"I've trained hard alongside my teammates to hopefully put Manly back where they belong. And that's finals football."
That journey begins on Sunday. The Sea Eagles will host their great rivals Parramatta in a blockbuster opening to their campaign.
First piece of silverware: Daly Cherry-Evans collects the Community Cup after the Sea Eagles beat the Roosters in their trial in Gosford.Credit: Getty Images
They will do so with a new spine after Blake Green made the shift from Melbourne to Manly to partner Cherry-Evans in the halves. Green's arrival will allow Dylan Walker to shift back to his customary centre spot and help ease the burden on Cherry-Evans to steer the team around the park.
"Blake being in the No.6 jersey is going to help our side and balance it out really nicely," Cherry-Evans said.
"[Our combination] is not going to happen overnight, and I hope everyone is aware with that. As hard as we're training and as much as we're hoping it does, we do understand that things might not go to plan as soon as we want them to.
"Obviously, we'd like to hit the ground running in round one, but we're under no illusions that things might not run as smoothly as we want them to.
"We're working extremely hard behind the scenes to make that happen."
The opportunity to step into a more senior role, coupled with the chance to play alongside "DCE", were behind Green's move to the northern beaches.
"Obviously, he's a very good player; it's been well documented how special a talent he is," Green said of his new halves partner.
"The club have shown that by signing him to a long-term deal; he's the face of the club.
"It's important he realises that I'm there with him to take pressure off him and he can just play footy. He doesn't need to carry the team on his own.
"In any halves pairing it's important to know that you're not on your own.
"All of the teams that have been successful – when Michael Morgan went up to the Cowboys with Johnathan Thurston, it took a lot of pressure off him, along with Lachlan Coote.
"It's important everyone in your spine works together to take pressure off."
Having played under previous skippers Jamie Lyon and Jason King, Cherry-Evans is hoping to mirror the best qualities of both in his captaincy.
"Jamie Lyon's calm demeanour out on the football field was one of his greatest attributes," Cherry-Evans said.
"Jason King, the way he talks to the oldest bloke in the team to the youngest bloke in the team, he had time and respect for everyone.
"Those two things, I want to make sure that I funnel through into my captaincy."
A large crowd, coupled with a huge TV audience, is expected for the clash between the traditional rivals.
"It's a fantastic game, Manly versus Parramatta, that's one rivalry that won't disappear overnight in the NRL," Cherry-Evans said.
"I do enjoy playing the Eels because they are always such a strong side, with a good coach in Brad Arthur.
"If they had the points deducted from them last year reinstated they would have been a top-four side. We're under no illusions at all about how hard they are going to be. They are going to try to spoil our season starter and Brad is going to have them firing.
"We're working hard to make sure we prepare for them."