Daly Cherry-Evans kicked his disappointment in Queensland’s opening State of Origin loss to the curb with a commanding performance at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.
The Manly and Maroons skipper was involved in four Sea Eagles tries as Lehi Hopoate ran riot at fullback in the absence of Tom Trbojevic.
Cherry-Evans’ performance should go a long way to ease the pressure from pundits who suggested the veteran half be axed ahead of Origin 2 in Perth on June 18.
The 34-6 victory snapped a three game home losing streak for Manly, while Brisbane, playing their first NRL game at Brookvale since round 21 in 2014 – 3,957 days ago – now own an unwelcome winless run of four.
Manly made all the early running and scored first in the sixth minute via Clayton Faulalo off a Cherry-Evans kick.
Faulalo, deputising for the ill Jason Saab, grabbed a second midway through the half, before Cherry-Evans manufactured two more four pointers with an in-goal kick for Nathan Brown and a dribbling mid field grubber for Hopoate to set up Haumole Olakau’atu.
The home side headed to the sheds at the break, up 22-6.
In the second period Cherry-Evans controlled the game with a brilliant long kicking display, while Luke Brooks got into the act setting up tries for Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula.
Like Cherry-Evans, Hopoate was sensational, running for a game high 228 metres and setting up two tries.
Jazz Tevaga, making his 150th NRL appearance, was the pick of Manly’s forwards alongside Olakau’atu.
The Broncos, for their part, were never really in the game, lacking spark in attack and dropping too much ball.
Manly move into seventh on the ladder while Brisbane, who have now lost six of their past seven games, fall to 11th after producing their worst performance of the season.
While Cherry-Evans was the star of the show, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan were Brisbane’s best in a badly beaten side.
Coming off the back of a man of the match performance in Origin 1, Haas had an uncharacteristically poor start to the game, badly missing a tackle on Hopoate that led to a line break, then spilling the ball in a routine hit up, all within the first three minutes.
The hulking front rower recovered well and put in a herculean effort alongside Carrigan, the representative pair powering through almost 30 minutes in both of their stints on the field. Each ran for 139 metres, with Carrigan also producing 47 tackles.
Olakau’atu had his best game in several weeks, snaring a double to remind NSW coach Laurie Daley of his credentials.
No love for Mam
The Brookvale faithful let Ezra Mam know he was public enemy number one, unleashing a chorus of boos every time the Broncos five eighth touched the ball or made a tackle.
In his first game away from home since returning from a 9-week suspension following an off-season drug-driving incident, Mam received a taste of what the rest of his season might look like.
The jeering reached fever pitch when Man scored Brisbane’s only try in the 12th minute.
Prodigious Manly half Joey Walsh is yet to play NRL, but the 19-year-old must be getting close to an opportunity after another impressive outing in NSW Cup that included a brilliant individual try.
Manly struggled for direction and rarely threatened in attack with Jake Arthur in the number 7 jersey during last week’s loss to Parramatta and the time might be right for Anthony Seibold to introduce Walsh to the big stage when Cherry-Evans next plays for Queensland.
Walsh is a Northern Beaches local who attended St Augustine’s College, across the road from 4 Pines Park, where he captained the Australian U18 rugby side and the Sea Eagles beat a host of suitors for his signature, inking a three-year deal that began this season.
With Jamal Fogarty set to arrive at Manly in 2026, there may be no better time than the present to give the rising youngster his chance.
