His years in the representative wilderness must seem an eternity ago for Daly Cherry-Evans after the Kangaroos heaped praise on their recalled playmaker ahead of Saturday's trans-Tasman Test in Auckland. Prop Aaron Woods backed coach Mal Meninga's declaration that the Kangaroos are now Cherry-Evans' team to guide while Tom Trbojevic hailed the halfback's mental strength. The DCE love-in is in stark contrast to just three months ago when speculation was still rife that Cherry-Evans' representative cards had been permanently marked after reportedly falling out with Queensland Origin players. The public perception wasn't helped by Cherry-Evans' infamous fallout with Manly teammate Jackson Hastings in April.
The Sea Eagles skipper began to turn the tide when he made a stunning Queensland return and sparked a State of Origin game three win in July, ending a three-year Maroons exile. Woods said Cherry-Evans had already won over his Kangaroos teammates ahead of his first Test in four years. The bench prop said the playmaker had been entrusted with the reins of a new-look Kangaroos featuring four rookies, backing Meninga's claim that Australia were now "his team". Woods said it was up to Cherry-Evans to take control of a rookie spine, with fullback James Tedesco, pivot Luke Keary and hooker Damien Cook all making their Test debuts.
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