Cherry-Evans dodges unwanted 14-year first

Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is free to play the Raiders on Friday night after the veteran halfback avoided what would have been the first suspension of his decorated 313-game career at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Cherry-Evans was hit with a grade two dangerous throw charge for a tackle on Parramatta’s Shaun Lane that saw teammate Haumole Olakau’atu sent to the sin bin and take the early guilty plea for a charge that saw him banned for two games.

The Sea Eagles rolled the dice on what was just the second charge of Cherry-Evans’ career – ironically another dangerous throw charge against the Eels six years ago – with the rep star pleading guilty but seeking a downgrade.

The panel of Tony Puletua and former referee Greg McCallum took just 10 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict to downgrade the charge, with judiciary chairman Geoffrey Bellew confirming the Queensland and Australian star had escaped with a $750 fine.

“It’s definitely a relief, that’s probably the best way to summarise it,” said Cherry-Evans, who almost appeared excited to be at Rugby League Central to experience his first judiciary hearing.

“We came here pretty confident that there was a fair case to answer for and to get downgraded, so I’m really happy with the process and I can’t complain.

“It didn’t really concern me about having a blemish on the record, it was more around fighting for what we thought was a fair grading.

“I’m certainly not worried about a stain on my record.”

Eight camera angles were used in evidence as well as a comparable tackle from 2022 when Wests Tigers players Jackson Hastings (grade two) and Joe Ofahengaue (grade one) were charged for a lifting tackle on Newcastle’s Tex Hoy.

Cherry-Evans was questioned by defence counsel Nick Ghabar and then cross-examined by NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles, explaining how he used his right leg to try to stop Lane’s momentum before Olakau’atu got involved and contributed to the lift.

“I’m starting to tackle him in the way that I’ve used many times before with the bigger fellas. That would be to use them running at me and then at some point trying to use my leg to bring them to the ground,” he said of a technique he’s used hundreds of times.

“It’s not the first choice of tackle, but it’s definitely a tackle I’ve used in this situation before. I’ve never hurt anyone with it before.

“I’ve made a lot of these types of tackle and never put anyone in a dangerous position, but this started to feel a bit different.

“I would usually go to the ground in the tackle with the person carrying the ball.

“(I stay on my feet because) the momentum in the tackle changes and doesn’t feel natural.”

He argued that he lost control of the tackle once Olakau’atu got involved, and that the force generated by the two larger back-rowers led to the tipping motion.

“I don’t think I could have done anything (to protect him) based on the size of the other two,” he said.

“I felt like the best thing was to get out of there. I don’t feel like I could have helped that situation.

“I can admit I played a role in the tackle, but it gets to a point where it’s out of my control.

“I’m not going to weight shame anyone, but they’re two really big fellas. I genuinely don’t think I could’ve helped mitigate the risk of what was happening at a certain point of the tackle.”

Gyles argued that “the leg created a fulcrum to launch Lane upwards” and that was why Lane was put into such a vulnerable position.

But Ghabar launched a staunch defence of his 85kg client, arguing that Cherry-Evans would have needed “superhuman powers” to avoid putting Lane in a dangerous position.

“Cherry-Evans has no involvement whatsoever in the tackle (when the tackle becomes dangerous),” he said.

“The overriding responsibility for the elevation occurred because of what Olakau’atu did and his lift.

“Unless Cherry-Evans had superhuman powers, he could have done nothing to arrest Lane’s momentum.”