Why Manly should be thanking Billy Slater for DCE’s revival
July 26, 2025 — 4.32pm
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Daly Cherry-Evans’ Queensland Origin snub is starting to have a direct impact on Manly, with the skipper playing a big role in the Sea Eagles’ recent run of wins.
Billy Slater’s decision to dump Cherry-Evans for Tom Dearden as his halfback was vindicated with a come-from-behind Origin series victory over NSW, but the 36-year-old playmaker has used the added time to be the best – and freshest – version of himself for his club.
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Cherry-Evans has just seven regular-season games left in the Manly colours, not including finals, before he is expected to finish his career in 2026 with the Sydney Roosters.
But the game’s most-experienced No.7 is showing no signs of slowing down, and will be one of the senior Sea Eagles looking to ruin Sunday’s celebrations for Canterbury as they acknowledge their 1995 grand final victory over the northern beaches club.
A starring performance from Cherry-Evans would also partially moderate the hype surrounding Canterbury’s 20-year-old prodigy Lachie Galvin.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold, who has experience in managing the workloads of Origin players when they return to their clubs, said of Cherry-Evans: “Only ‘Chez’ would be able to answer if he is feeling fresher physically and mentally [from not playing for Queensland].”
Daly Cherry-Evans has looked physically and mentally fresher after being spared playing Origin for Queensland.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
“But I do know he’s been very good for us the past three games,” Seibold said. “He’s been committed physically, and he’s worked really hard on his defence. That one-on-one tackle last week on a 128kg front-rower in Nelson [Asofa-Solomona] was a great tackle.
“His footy [in] the past three games has been of the highest standard. He directed us around the park well last weekend against Melbourne, and his and Luke Brooks’ kicking game was really good.”
Cherry-Evans and Galvin defend on opposite sides of the field, but are both important to their sides when it comes to owning the big moments.
Galvin did that with a wonderful 79th-minute cutout pass to snatch victory against St George Illawarra last Saturday.
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Lachie Galvin is a quality player who is very skilful, he’s a big body, and he has a lot of weapons,” Seibold said.
“I’ve only seen him play live once before, which was last year when we played the Wests Tigers. He took the line on that day and was impressive. He’ll be a handful again on Sunday. But we’ll be ready.”
More than 30,000 people will be at Allianz Stadium to celebrate the Bulldogs’ victory from three decades ago. Jim Dymock was the Clive Churchill Medallist that year for the Dogs, but is now working as one of Seibold’s assistants.
Despite all the expected sentimentality surrounding the home side, Seibold was happy to try and ruin the party.“Everyone expects us to go there and let the Bulldogs have their party,” Seibold said.
Bulldogs players after winning the 1995 grand final.
“We’re very respectful of that 1995 team, but we’re not going there to roll over, that’s for sure. We’ll be heading there to be the best version of ourselves.”
Haumole Olakau’atu returns from a shoulder injury in what will be an epic back-row battle with Bulldogs opposite Viliame Kikau.
Seibold said Olakau’atu, who injured his right shoulder against the Titans in round 15, could have returned last weekend against the Storm.
Jake Simpkin will be a late scratching due to concussion, with Gordon Chan Kum Tong to replace him on the bench.
The win over Melbourne meant a lot to the Manly players, especially given only last month there was talk about Seibold’s future, and if Tom Trbojevic was best utilised in the centres.
Jake Trbojevic celebrated by kicking over a dozen Gatorade bottles in the sheds, only to then stay behind to help clean them up.