LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Daly Cherry-Evans' potential successor has indicated that he is prepared to step into the NRL spotlight immediately if Manly Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold seeks a preview of the team's future. Rookie playmaker Joey Walsh has made a strong impression in his inaugural season with the NSW Cup after transitioning from rugby union last summer, where he played 13 matches against more experienced competitors.
Recently, Walsh, a former Australian schoolboy rugby star, contributed to Manly's 30-12 victory over Newcastle, a match featuring prominent players like Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings. Although Seibold is focused on the present as the team strives to secure a top-eight position, there are hints that the departing Daly Cherry-Evans may eventually give way to Walsh.
Next season, Jamal Fogarty from Canberra will fill Cherry-Evans' role, but if Manly's prospects for finals glory dim, Seibold might consider introducing Walsh into the NRL sooner. Walsh's agent, Cameron Day, revealed that the 19-year-old has been closely training with Cherry-Evans and five-eighth Luke Brooks this year and stands ready to seize any opportunity presented to him.
"Joey's a very ambitious, confident, charismatic kind of a kid so if it was up to him, he'd want to play and play now," Day mentioned to Yahoo Sport Australia. "He feels he's ready to go and would love to get that phone call any day."
"He's a high-achieving alpha dog who is ready for anything that's thrown at him. But selections are none of my business. That's a coach's decision and there is no pressure whatsoever from anyone at the end or Joey's." Furthermore, Day emphasized Walsh's positive relationship with the veteran players: "Those experienced halves in front of him have been great to him, and he's learning from them. And if it rolls that way and he doesn't get picked this year, that's no stress at all. He's very much a team player and will play where he gets picked."
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