The half-back will compete for Australia’s grandest club prize before moving to Hull FC.
New Hull FC signing Daly Cherry-Evans.(Image: Getty)
Daly Cherry-Evans has explained how signing for Hull FC boosted his own motivations to win the NRL Grand Final this year.
Cherry-Evans, who has signed a one-year deal with Hull for the 2027 season, will finish his career in Australia for the Sydney Roosters against Newcastle Knights in Sunday morning’s showpiece before heading to the Black and Whites this autumn.
The 37-year-old, who turns 38 in February, is looking for his second Premiership ring, 15 years after his first for Manly Sea Eagles, whom he played 352 games for before joining the Roosters ahead of this year.
And the veteran has now stated that the timing of his Hull move has levelled up his mindset, with the veteran saying to the Australian press: “I can’t explain it any more than the feeling was just so right for the family and I to accept that whatever happens this year is going to be the end.
“And I think there was something powerful about me accepting that this was the last year. It’s just helped me keep a really sharp focus around what we as a team want to get out of this season, and it’s just heightened that hunger to go and finish with a Premiership.
“I’ll be doing whatever it takes this week. I was 22 years old back then (the 2011 triumph). I’m 37 now. Fifteen years is a long time for someone.
“I’ll proudly say I’ve grown up in the game of rugby league. I’ve become a father and a husband, and I’d like to think a really good teammate.
“Rugby league’s been great to me. I love this game, and if I could finish with a special moment like a Premiership, then it’d be a lifetime memory, no doubt about it.”
On the Grand Final, Cherry-Evans, who helped lead the Roosters side to victory over the Dolphins at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in the Preliminary Final on Friday, continued: “The job is certainly not done yet. I’m super proud, and we’re exactly where we want to be.
“Of course I’ve been dreaming about it. I’m at a club and in a team that has a lot of like-minded people, so when I say I’m not surprised where we are, we’ve been working towards this and talking about this since November last year.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to play in a Grand Final. So it’s not lost on me how much work goes into this.”
And for Cherry-Evans., there’s no desire to ‘stick one up’ to Manly after leaving the club last year. He added: “I’ve got to be honest, my motivations are so internal. Storylines might be created around Manly, but it’s honestly got nothing to do with why I’ve continued to play the game of rugby league.
“I’ve loved everyone at Manly. I’ve loved every minute of Manly, but this is not about Manly. I am way more internally motivated than trying to stick it up to anyone. I’m too old for that.”