Kangaroos veteran Daly Cherry-Evans has praised Nathan Cleary and revealed the frank chat he had with coach Mal Meninga ahead of the World Cup.
Cherry-Evans, 33, has been locked in a battle with Panthers superstar Cleary to be Australia’s halfback for the knockout stages.
The duo started a game each in England, before sharing halves duties in Australia’s third and final group stage game against Italy on Sunday.
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Cherry-Evans orchestrated the Kangaroos opening win over Fiji before Cleary destroyed Scotland, and both starred against the Italians.
Back-to-back NRL premiership winner Cleary, 24, is expected to get the nod ahead of his Sea Eagles rival, but Meninga is yet to reveal his decision.
“(Cleary) is a great player, he played really well tonight again and you can see why Penrith have been so strong and probably will be for a long time,” Cherry-Evans told Fox League at full-time on Sunday.
“It’s going to be beaten up as a competition and don’t get me wrong I want to be in the final 17, but those decisions are out of my hands.
“All I can do is keep enjoying my footy over here and I am really proud of the two games I got for Australia.”
“I’m hoping this isn’t my last game but if it is, I’ll still be here to support the team.”
DCE – the incumbent halfback leading into the World Cup – then told reporters that Meninga warned him ahead of the tournament that he’d be fighting to keep his spot.
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“I knew what I was signing up for, Mal told me before I came that this would be an open competition and that I’d have to fight for a spot,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I love those competitions. I was either going to be playing for Australia (deep into the tournament) or having to be a bit selfless and do something for a young group coming through.
“Either way I’m hoping to have an impact on this World Cup. Ideally that’s on the field, but if not I’ll still help this group.”
Cherry-Evans was five-eithth against the Italians and said it was “a really special night” playing alongside Cleary for the first time.
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“It was great to move around the field, a heap of freedom out there and I just enjoyed it,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Any time you get the chance to play rep footy you never know when it’s your last one.
“I really enjoyed tonight, I had a lot of fun and got to play alongside a star-studded Aussie side so really proud and whatever happens, happens.”
DCE played off the bench in Australia’s 2013 World Cup final victory over New Zealand, but didn’t feature in the 2017 final win against England, with Cooper Cronk the halfback.
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