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No Regrets!” – Roosters Coach’s Defiant Stance on Cherry-Evans Amid Growing Controversy….. See More
Roosters coach Trent Robinson says his stance has not changed on wanting to bring Daly Cherry-Evans to the club next season, despite the continued form of his young stars. Halves pair Hugo Savala and Sandon Smith were once again instrumental in the Roosters’ thumping 42-8 win over the Cowboys on Sunday that cemented their spot in the top eight.
The Roosters ran in five second-half tries to wrap up their biggest win of the season and jump into seventh on the NRL ladder. The only negatives were knee injuries to second-rower Siua Wong and Smith, who impressed again at five-eighth alongside Savala, with first-choice half Sam Walker still out with a fractured thumb.
Savala’s incredible tap-back set up one of the tries of the season for Mark Nawaqanitawase, and the No.7’s kicking game helped the Roosters control the contest. Savala’s halves partnership with Smith has been one of the stories of the season for Robinson’s side and the duo marshalled the side around superbly on Sunday, until the five-eighth left the game late on with injury.
But it was the latest stunning illustration that the young halves are bona fide NRL starters and have formed one of the league’s most promising combinations. It has also raised further questions about why the Roosters feel the need to sign Manly captain Cherry-Evans, who is widely expected to join the club next season on around $1 million per season.
There has been speculation that the Roosters might be considering backflipping on a reported handshake agreement to sign DCE next season, after he was axed from Queensland’s Origin side in the midst of an alarming form slump with Manly. But Robinson addressed the club’s interest in DCE before Sunday’s game and said the club’s stance had not changed on signing the veteran halfback.
