I can’t be DCE: Fogarty ready to be own man at Manly
Scott Bailey |
Jamal Fogarty has declared he’s his own man and won’t try to be Daly Cherry-Evans at Manly, conceding there is a talent gap between him and the man he considers as the club’s greatest ever half.
Fogarty is now full swing into his first pre-season at the Sea Eagles, fresh off moving from Canberra and beginning training a week earlier than scheduled at Brookvale.
After guiding Canberra to a minor premiership with a career-best year last season, the 31-year-old is the first to admit he is still spurred on by the Raiders’ straight-sets finals exit.
But the late-blooming playmaker is also undeterred by the fact he will enter 2026 with a heavy spotlight on him after Cherry-Evans’ high-profile Manly exit.
No player in premiership history has played as many games at halfback for a club as Cherry-Evans did at the Sea Eagles, after being Manly’s No.7 since the start of 2011.
“He’s probably the greatest half to play for the club and put that jersey on,” Fogarty said.
“That’s something I’ve got to respect and acknowledge.
“But also I’m not as talented as Daly, and I’m going to be Jamal. I’m not going to try and be him.
“It’s about acknowledging the greatness that he had here, but then also now I get to play my style.
“Everyone’s going to compare me to him and obviously he’s in a new club and whatever else, but I’m just going to be myself.”
Cherry-Evans’ exit from Manly marks one of the most significant changeovers in a club’s halves in history.
The Queenslander’s fingerprints have been on almost everything Manly have done for the past 15 years, from the club’s playing style to being the man in clutch moments.
As a way of comparison, Gold Coast have had 12 separate first-choice halfbacks and Canterbury 11 in the time Manly have had Cherry-Evans at the helm.
The Sea Eagles have largely played with a free-wheeling, up-tempo style over the past few years, attacking from their own half and making use of speed out wide.
It has often made them one of the most exciting teams in the NRL to watch, while being a picture of inconsistency both within games and across a season.
With Fogarty at No.7, Canberra’s attack was built off momentum through the middle, forwards and offloads, before off-the-cuff play close to the line.
Fogarty said there would naturally be some change to the way Manly played, as well as within his own game.
“It’s got to be both ways,” Fogarty said.
“I’ve got to adjust my playing style to the team, because there were a couple of games last year that where you were like: ‘oh, jeez, they’re a good team’.
“And then I’ve got to still be able to be myself to feel confident to play my style.
“I’m very calculated in what I do but then I’ve also got to be able to be a bit more risky and try that free flowing footy as well.
“If we can play pretty fast and structured, then that’s going to hopefully provide opportunities for the guys that like that free style of play.”
AAP
