Tour souvenir: Daly Cherry-Evans is greeted by girlfriend Vessa Rockliff at Sydney Airport; and his lovebite (inset). Source: The Daily Telegraph
THE gorgeous girl on his arm couldn't take the attention away from the hickie on his neck.
And like the rest of the family, friends and media awaiting the arrival of the Kangaroos at Sydney Airport yesterday, Vessa Rockliff would've had one very obvious question for boyfriend Daly Cherry-Evans.
Proving what happens on tour doesn't necessarily stay on tour, the 22-year-old Manly star returned from Australia's successful Four Nations campaign unable to hide the suspicious bruise on the left side of his neck.
But a Kangaroos insider quickly doused the flames on what could have been a very tricky situation for Cherry-Evans.
"One of his teammates did it to him," the insider laughed. "One of his teammates has a lot of explaining to do."
Back-up halfback Cherry-Evans made his international debut off the interchange bench in the Kangaroos' 56-14 victory over Wales.
Rather than spend his off-hours getting up to mischief, it seems the rising star's only crime was being popular with teammates.
Having had a dream 2011 season, in which he went from the Queensland Cup to NRL premiership winner, Cherry-Evans has more than earned the six-week break he will have before returning to pre-season training with his Manly teammates.
Cherry-Evans is yet to re-sign with Manly for beyond next season and there is plenty of attention on the Kangaroos rookie to give Sea Eagles supporters some good news by agreeing to stay with the club until the end of 2014.
His manager, who has been negotiating since September, will meet again with Sea Eagles officials on Friday in a bid to broker a deal. But Cherry-Evans yesterday declared he expected it to be finalised soon.
"I haven't signed yet, but that's all getting sorted," he said yesterday.
"I'll be there for a few more years to come, happily.
"Obviously Des (Hasler) is a good coach, but at the end of the day he's moved on and so do we. I think everyone will just be happy to get the ball rolling again for 2012."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/daly-cherry-evans-has-some-explaining-to-do-on-return-from-kangaroos-tour/story-e6frfgbo-1226203036838