DCE TO HIT 300

By Wayne Heming

FOG #176 Daly Cherry-Evans will claim a special place in Queensland and Australian rugby league history this weekend running out for game number 300 for Manly against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium on Saturday.

The FOGS wish the Queensland captain, who retained the State of Origin series 2-1 earlier this month, the best of luck in his 300^th NRL game.

No doubt it will be an emotional day for the 34-year-old Redcliffe junior who made his NRL debut at halfback for Manly in round one of the club’s 2011 premiership-winning season and where he has played every single one of 299 NRL games since.

On Saturday, he will become only the 14^th FOG (Former Origin Great) to have chalked up 300 games.

Maroons’ legend Darren Lockyer (FOG #105) and front-row great Steve Prince (#108) achieved the feat together in 2009.

Not only that, but he will also become only the 49th player in the game’s history to have reached the 300-game career milestone since Geoff Gerrard, who also played for Manly among his three NRL clubs, did it in 1989.

Cherry-Evans has already celebrated tremendous success on the playing field.

He captured a premiership ring with Manly in 2011 and is one of only four players in history to be awarded the Clive Churchill medal playing in a losing team when the Sydney Roosters beat Manly in the 2013 grand final.

He is a dedicated family man with three daughters, Navi, Harvie, and Tully who along with his partner Vessa and other family members will be at the ground on Saturday to support him.

Several players from Manly, including Steve Menzies, Cliffy Lyons, and Brent Kite, are members of the 300-game club but they all had stints with other clubs while Cherry-Evans has played his entire career for Manly.

Cherry-Evans is not all that comfortable discussing his impending milestone.

But he acknowledges it is a “big one” which, when he has time to reflect on his career, he will enjoy,

“I always had that mentality that I wanted to play a lot of games at the start, but I’d say I’ve probably outdone my expectations as a 12-year-old kid,” Cherry-Evans told NRL.com.au senior reporter Martin Lenehan in an interview before his big game.

“I’m very proud and it is nice to be in the company of some club legends.

“My journey hasn’t been plain. I reckon I’ve had a pretty up-and-down ride and learned along the way.

“Looking back, I’ve learned some great lessons, some of which I’ve learned the hard way, but I don’t think I’d change a thing because I am content with my career and the person I’ve become.

“A lot of people will know me as a rugby league player, but I am really proud of what I’ve done off the field. I have three beautiful daughters and a partner that I care about a lot and who has been there for me through the whole experience.”

At 34 Cherry-Evans is playing as well, if not better than at any stage of his 13-year career with no signs or indications his playing days are almost over.

In fact, several good judges believe Cherry-Evans can continue paying deep into his thirties in his current vein of form.

“I’m an optimist, so I hope there is more success (premiership) to come.”

“This club gave me a start, it’s a club I care about.”

Asked about his career highlights Cherry-Evans listed his debut for Manly and his first games for Queensland and Australia at the top of the list.

“The grand final is a special one and it will stay with me for a long time,” he said.

“Any time you make your debut for your state or country is a special one, winning an Origin series, and winning the last two is something I’ll never forget.

“The group of people I’ve done it with, they’re an amazing bunch of fellas and I take a lot of pride being the captain of that (Queensland) side.”

For the record, the 14 FOGS who have played 300 or more games are:

FOG #140 Cameron Smith (430 games)

FOG #168 Cooper Cronk (372 games)

FOG #105 Darren Lockyer (355 games)

FOG #146 Corey Parker (347 games)

FOG #166 Darius Boyd (337 games)

FOG #148 Johnathan Thurston (323 games)

FOG #142 Billy Slater (319 games)

FOG #108 Steve Price (313 games)

FOG #120 Petero Civoniceva (309 games)

FOG #194 Andrew McCullough (309 games)