6 days ago
'Ready to go now': Many sent clear message about Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement
The manager of the player being groomed as Manly's long-term halfback has told Yahoo he's ready to take the step up to the NRL right now if Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold wants an early glimpse into the future. Rookie playmaker Joey Walsh has impressed in his first year in the NSW Cup after switching from rugby union last summer, making 13 appearances and holding his own against more seasoned opposition.
Just last weekend the former Australian schoolboy rugby star helped guide Manly's Cup side to a 30-12 win over a Newcastle team featuring Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings in the halves. Seibold has so far resisted looking too far ahead as the club continues to fight for a top eight berth, fending off suggestions the departing Daly Cherry-Evans should make way for Walsh.
Canberra's Jamal Fogarty will take DCE's place next year, but the Manly boss may be tempted to blood Walsh later this month if his side fades from finals view. Walsh's manager Cameron Day said the 19-year-old, who has been working closely with Cherry-Evans and five-eighth Luke Brooks at training all year, would answer the call if promoted to the NRL.
"Joey's a very ambitious, confident, charismatic kind of a kid so if it was up to him, he'd want to play and play now," Day told Yahoo Sport Australia. "He feels he's ready to go and would love to get that phone call any day.
"He's a high-achieving alpha dog who is ready for anything that's thrown at him. But selections are none of my business. That's a coach's decision and there is no pressure whatsoever from anyone at our end or Joey's.
"Those experienced halves in front of him have been great to him and he's learning from them, and if it rolls that way and he doesn't get picked this year, that's no stress at all. He's very much a team player and will play where he gets picked."
RELATED:
Panthers star on hunt for new NRL club after contract not renewed
Craig Bellamy responds after Ivan Cleary calls for NRL rule change
Daly Cherry-Evans' big raps for Joey Walsh
Cherry-Evans was impressed with Walsh from the moment he first clapped eyes on him, telling Zero Tackle at the start of the year: "He's young player with all of the skills and abilities.
"He's just going to absorb everything that our club and the game has to offer. No doubt he's going to be there one day playing for Manly for sure."
Walsh has a further two years to run on his deal at Brookvale. Day said: "This has been a really good development year for Joey and he's as happy as Larry at Manly."
