Daly Cherry-Evans shuts down Origin conspiracy, rumours of Maroons rift
Cherry-Evans and Game 1 referee Ashley Klein were spotted having an extended conversation inside an empty 4 Pines Park a couple of weeks ago, sharing a laugh following a Manly training session.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The SMH photographed the pair having a good spirited chat, prompting concerns from NSW's camp over whether Cherry-Evans was trying to get the NRL's leading referee on side ahead of State of Origin.
The pair reportedly spent around 20 minutes locked in conversation and when asked about what was said, Klein revealed they were simply talking happy families and speaking about their children.
'The mind shudders to think what the hell those two were talking about,' Tigers and Blues great Benny Elias told the SMH.
'Although it is that time of year again when Queensland start buttering up the referees.'
Former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith was renowned for being footy's ultimate diplomat by speaking to referees constantly during games, but Cherry-Evans firmly denied he was trying to influence Klein.
'Read into it what you will, but there's nothing there for me,' Cherry-Evans said.
'That's a weekly occurrence for us. If you come down to Manly training on any given week you will snap me with the referees at training.
'I'm not going to be able to remember the conversation exactly because I don't remember it being anything more than a conversation.
'We have referees come out to our training sessions weekly at Manly. They are humans. They are people. They have families and more often than not we're just talking about our kids and how they are misbehaving.
'We are all human and like to talk about our problems, it's as simple as that really.
'I'd like to think I have a good relationship with all referees.
'I'm respectful, empathetic for the way they have to sometimes play to the rules.
'I have a lot of respect and love for the referees.
'I haven't had too many situations where I've crossed the line there.'
DCE denies talk of Cobbo rift
Cherry-Evans also moved to shut down speculation Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo was left out of the Maroons squad because other Queensland players don't like him.
Cobbo was cleared of a fracture in his wrist but was overlooked by Billy Slater, who picked Roosters rookie Robert Toia in the centres.
'Have you guys made that a thing? That we don't like Selwyn,' Cherry-Evans asked reporters.
'I really enjoy playing with Selwyn.
'He's a fantastic footy player, he's an even better person. I just think it's so ridiculous we have to justify our relationship with people, especially someone as good natured as Selwyn Cobbo.
'How and who picks the team, it's got nothing to do with the players, that's a selector and a coach thing, and we always back them to make the right decision.'
State of Origin Game 1 kicks off on Wednesday at 8.05pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
12 minutes ago
- ABC News
NRL live updates: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Round 25 of the NRL season begins on Thursday night with South Sydney hosting St George Illawarra at Stadium Australia. Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston will be looking to edge closer to Ken Irvine's long-standing try-scoring record. Johnston is currently on 209 career tries, just three short of Irvine's career total. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
ABC News
42 minutes ago
- ABC News
Matildas, Chelsea star Sam Kerr says she wants to get back scoring goals ahead of her return from injury
Matildas star Sam Kerr insists there's no reason why she can't get back to her prolific goal-scoring best as she nears her long-awaited playing return with Chelsea. Kerr hasn't played for club or country since tearing her ACL on a Chelsea training camp in January 2024. Her rehabilitation has had setbacks, including requiring further surgery earlier this year, while she was also subject to a high-profile court case in February this year. There is still no fixed date for her return but Kerr is now back training with her teammates, who have been on a training camp in the Netherlands. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ Australia's greatest ever goal scorer, who has enjoyed a trophy-laden six years at Chelsea, backed herself in to deliver when she returns for her club. "My contribution is goals; it's as simple as that," Kerr told Chelsea's website. "For the last, however many years, I've been within the top goalscorers, if not the top goalscorer in the team, and that's where I want to come back to, I've got high expectations of myself. "I have a lot of confidence in my ability, so the contribution for me is straightforward. It's goals. That's what I'm here to do, and that's what I normally do, so there's no reason why I can't do it again." Kerr has relished her return to more regular programming at Chelsea, who open their season against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on September 5, after her horror injury run. "During an injury, you're alone a lot," Kerr said. "So it's good to be back with the girls, just doing the same training sessions as them rather than solitary rehab sessions. "… It's nice to be back with the girls, back on the pitch, and yeah, I'm excited. I'm most looking forward to being out there, scoring goals and having fun." Kerr's enthusiasm will be welcome news for Matildas coach Joe Montemurro, who hopes to have her back firing ahead of next year's Asian Cup, along with Mary Fowler, who recently started running as she attempts to return from her own ACL tear. Chelsea will be especially keen to have her back in their attacking fold, with England dynamo Lauren James to miss the start of the season through an ankle injury suffered in the Women's Euros final win over Spain. Kerr, who has been joined by Matildas teammate Ellie Carpenter at Chelsea, is also keen to play under manager Sonia Bompastor for the first time. "Sonia's very demanding as a manager," she said. "I've only been back in training for a couple of weeks with her, but I enjoy working under her and Cami (assistant coach Camille Abily), they're great. "It's a big change for me, but they had a lot of success last year, so I'm looking forward to playing under them." AAP
News.com.au
42 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Izak Rankine ‘carrot' reportedly behind reduced ban for homophobic slur
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and Crows boss Tim Silvers both addressed the media on Thursday in the wake of Izak Rankine's four-week ban for a homophobic slur. But there is a three-word phrase used in the AFL's statement that was clearly instrumental in the length of the suspension and one that neither figure would discuss. It will also leave major question marks remaining over the entire messy saga. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. A contrite Rankine has admitted he used a homophobic slur against a Collingwood player last Saturday night, stating he is 'very sorry for doing so' in a statement released by the Crows. The 25-year-old is a slim chance of playing again this season after copping a four-game ban, rather than the five matches originally sanctioned. Key to that decision was the fourth paragraph of the AFL's long-awaited statement, which read: 'Following an investigation and submissions from Adelaide and Rankine including compelling medical submissions, Rankine has received a four-match sanction and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training.' Those three words, 'compelling medical submissions', were brought up by journalists more than once in both Dillon and Silvers' press conferences, but neither would go into any detail. When asked about the reduction in the ban, Dillon said: 'It was the submissions that were made, and it was compelling medical submissions, but I'm not going to go into the detail on that.' Speaking at the Crows' headquarters in Adelaide, Silvers was asked if mental health had been part of the submission and replied: 'I won't be going into detail on that, it's not appropriate.' When pushed on whether there would be lingering doubts around the whole ordeal after the use of the vague term, Silvers stated: 'No. It's the statement from the AFL, there were medical submissions that were part of an extensive submission that we put to the AFL.' Of course personal medical information is strictly confidential, but there are reports already emerging that Rankine's mental health was the key factor behind the reduced sanction. Jason Dunstall was struggling to make sense of that on Fox Footy on Thursday night. 'I'm about as confused as I can possibly be. I regard myself as at least a semi-intelligent man,' he said. 'I don't know how 'compelling medical evidence' gets you from five weeks down to four. 'If we're talking about mental health, by what metric measurement scale are we saying that it equates to one week? 'I don't understand. I'm confused. Can someone explain it to me? 'You've got to come out and give more context so we understand it surely.' The Crows have strongly intimated there were extenuating circumstances behind Rankine's use of the slur, including Dan Houston's alleged war of words with the star Crow during the game. Houston himself was banned for five weeks late last season after leaving Rankine concussed following a bump gone wrong. But 'compelling medical submissions' could refer to any number of issues and would only lead to increased speculation and indeed digging from journalists, which is happening. There is also commentary over whether the AFL should have a hard and fast punishment for homophobic slurs, rather than allowing other factors to come into its decision. But that is not in the thinking at AFL House, with Thursday's statement concluding with the line: 'The AFL will continue to consider the specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses.' Reporter Lachlan McKirdy echoed the thoughts of many when he wrote on X: 'Four matches for Izak Rankine. Keen to learn more about the 'compelling medical submissions' that saw the ban get downgraded. He'll also now be cheering against his team in the first week of finals.' The Back Pocket podcast tweeted: 'Four is the most cowardly and awkward number of weeks for Rankine to have been given. Five would have been consistent and seemed like the AFL was sending a message. Four means they've left the door slightly ajar to play in the grand final. What a mess.' Despite the use of these apparent medical submissions, Dillon said early in his press conference that taunting from the opposition did not justify any use of a slur. 'Players get taunted, players get provoked, but when the line is crossed there must be accountability and in this instance, Izak is paying a significant price,' he said. 'But let me be very clear, this behaviour and language is unacceptable. I won't stand for it and nor will our organisation or the broader industry.' Dillon also denied that any extra weight was given to Rankine missing finals matches rather than regular season games, declaring 'no, a game is a game and that's what we took into account'. The AFL chief executive also declared his organisation has 'led the way' when it comes to education for its playing group. But the fact Rankine's case is the sixth in the past 16 months, with suspensions ranging from three to six-game bans, shows the message is clearly not getting through. Silvers was asked in his media conference if attempting to reduce Rankine's suspension could be viewed as mitigating homophobia. 'I don't think so,' he replied. 'I want to put on the table that we were looking for some leniency in the time, in the length of the ban. 'We didn't condone it, what he did was wrong, his behaviour was inappropriate so he was always going to be sanctioned. 'We were looking at a slightly reduced sanction. It wasn't that we weren't accepting that he'd done something wrong.' But surely the best way to demonstrate your club is against homophobia would be to accept whatever sanction was handed down? A failure to divulge these medical submissions doesn't answer the question of why they chose to fight, and delay the entire process, rather than accept the AFL's original five-game sanction, which was determined on Tuesday. Silvers admitted he is worried about Rankine, stating he 'basically hasn't left his house for the last few days'. He was also asked if it was a relief that Rankine's season may not be over. 'Possibly,' he conceded. 'We'd love to make it through to the grand final. 'We're probably not looking that far forward. This has been a distraction this week. 'We've got a game against North Melbourne on the weekend, so we're probably not looking that far ahead. 'In terms of Izak the individual, I think it's nice there's a carrot for him and it means his season is potentially not over and I think that's good for his mental health.' That piece of information may have been the most compelling about these medical exceptions. Channel 7 reporter Mitch Cleary referenced those comments when he tweeted: 'It's understood Rankine's compelling medical submissions centred around mental health concerns and the impact having his season being cut short immediately would've taken on him. 'Crows CEO Tim Silvers pointed to the 'carrot' Rankine has now that his season isn't over immediately.' Rankine and the Crows have every right to deal with this situation however they see fit. But those medical submissions were likely to come out one way or another and noted news hound Cleary appears to have found them already. Mental health issues have become a widely accepted issue in society and no longer have the stigma of the past. Perhaps if the club had been forthcoming from the outset, some of this conjecture and critiquing of its approach wouldn't have been needed. Regardless of what he did, Rankine's mental health is critically important, as is the health of the unnamed player he targeted and anyone else that might be hurt by the past week. Silver very reasonably stated: We're going to support (Rankine), we're going to care for him. 'Yes he did the wrong thing, but he's still part of our extended family and we'll support him through this.' Silvers might also have summed it all up best when he stated: 'I think we're all losers in some way.'
