This is going to take some getting used to.
As if seeing Daly Cherry-Evans wear a number other than seven on his back wasn’t jarring enough, there’s the small matter of his being clad in red, white and blue.
A day after blowing out the candles on his 37th birthday, Cherry-Evans ran out as a Rooster for the first time in Gosford. A burst of lightning that interrupted the game less than five minutes in – and resulted in a 45-minute delay – only added to the anticipation.
All eyes were on “DCE”, but it was the man wearing the Roosters No.7 jersey on his back that stole the show. Sam Walker scored a try, set two up, kicked a 20-40 and booted three goals.
If Cherry-Evans’ mandate is to free Walker up, then their combination has got off to an auspicious start. The veteran stationed himself on the right side of the ruck, put in the majority of the clearing kicks and directed traffic like we’re accustomed to seeing.
However – on a very limited sample size – it appears neither Walker nor Cherry-Evans has taken on the mantle of dominant half, with both chiming in as the situation requires.
Dynamic duo: Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker.Credit: Getty Images
After 50 minutes, Roosters coach Trent Robinson had seen enough. Cherry-Evans was brought to the safety of the bench. Parramatta did likewise with their new No.6 recruit Jonah Pezet three minutes later – he came back on when the game was on the line – while Mitchell Moses didn’t return after the opening stanza.
In bizarre scenes, Moses gingerly ran a lap of Polytec Stadium, but Eels officials were adamant there was no injury concern.
The Roosters’ new-look spine was missing a crucial member, Cowboys and NSW hooker Reece Robson. But even without their injured No.9, and after just a handful of touches, the new halves combination showed enough to put the rest of the competition on notice.
“It was a little bit touch and go for the first 20 [minutes], but I feel now we’ve got our flow going and are very comfortable with each other,” Walker told Fox League as he came off the field for the half-time break. “He’s been awesome.”
Sam Walker starred in the first half against Parramatta.Credit: Getty Images
The same can be said of Walker himself. Starved of football last year – knee and thumb injuries restricted the former Australian Schoolboy to just nine appearances – this was perhaps the best performance of the pre-season. Which is why the Roosters didn’t want it to end.
Long after the majority of top-liners were subbed off and put into cotton wool for the more meaningful games ahead, Walker remained on the field. So too did Parramatta forward Jack Williams, despite a coat-hanger tackle on Tommy Talau that will be scrutinised by the match review committee.
And yet for all of Walker’s heroics, it wasn’t enough to get the job done.
The Eels got a glimpse at the future of their halves, both short and long term. Pezet was solid in his second barrier trial in the blue and gold, while a potential successor – Lorenzo Talataina – produced a try assist that helped to seal the game, 28-22.
Parramatta’s second trial win – and the accumulation of several bonus points along the way – could result in them being crowned the pre-season champions.
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
