'Always had that curiosity': DCE eyes title before English adventure

Daly Cherry-Evans has outlined his dream of winning a second NRL premiership before embarking on an English adventure he admits he's considered for a number of years.

The veteran announced on Friday he will join Hull FC in the Super League next season, drawing the curtain on a decorated 16-year NRL career at the conclusion of Roosters campaign. 

While excited to embark on a new journey, Cherry-Evans has unfinished business in the NRL. 

The playmaker steered his side into first place on the ladder with a double in Thursday’s statement win over the Panthers.

Cherry-Evans won a title with the Sea Eagles in his rookie season in 2011 and said he’d love nothing more than to go out on top. 

"I'm highly motivated by that," Cherry-Evans said. "I'm surrounded by a football team with great coaching staff that are very like-minded when it comes to what we want to get out of this season. 

"We're getting close to the fun part of the year but one thing we've done well is take each week as it comes. If we want to look at finals already, there's too many good teams in front of us that'll make us pay. 

"We enjoyed a good win [Thursday] night, we'll enjoy that over the weekend, but next week we'll come in and make sure we stay focused on what's ahead, which is the Tigers next weekend."

Cherry-Evans’ looming departure comes after a decorated career that has seen him captain his club and state, and star for the Kangaroos. 

The playmaker spent 15 years with Manly before joining the Roosters this season, and played his 373rd NRL game on Thursday night to climb into second all time on the list of first grade appearances. 

He left the Sea Eagles as the most capped player in Manly history and will long be remembered as a club legend on the Northern Beaches.

Cherry-Evans played in 26 games for Queensland, winning six State of Origin series and became the oldest player to feature in the interstate series when he ran out for Game One last year. He also represented Australia 21 times, winning two World Cups.

The 37-year-old admits he has considered finishing his career in England for a number of years and decided the time was right to chase a new challenge. 

"As a person, deep down, I've always had that curiosity of what Super League would look like," Cherry-Evans said. "The honest answer is as I've gotten older and I've understood there's a big world out there, it has become an interest but I never knew when. 

"I never had a timeline, I never knew when. It was just a thought that kept popping up over and over again. I felt like coming to the Roosters was not just going to help me benefit my footy career but also challenge me in other ways. That's definitely been the case and it'll be another case of that, but in another country next year."

In joining Hull FC, Cherry-Evans moves from an NRL glamour club to a working-class town in Northern England, along with his wife and three daughters. 

There he will link up with incoming coach Steve McNamara, a former Roosters assistant coach, and join a squad featuring Jake Arthur, John Asiata and Herman Ese’ese.

Cherry-Evans has never been to Hull before but his presence will provide a major boost to a competition that has struggled in recent years and he will instantly become the highest profile player in the league.

While he has long pondered the move to England, Cherry-Evans said it all came together quickly, with the halfback only putting pen to paper on the deal on Tuesday. 

"It's hard to think about the bigger picture questions when you're in the heat of a season that's really important to you," Cherry-Evans said. "There's absolutely nothing more important to me right now than winning a premiership this year. 

"But at some stage you do have to protect your future. Talking to my wife and the people we love and trust within our circle, we were told we would never regret going over to the UK, to the Super League. 

"We're excited about what's ahead for us as a family and I'm also very excited about the challenges that Super League's going to give me. I'm always about challenges and testing myself and Super League is going to give me that opportunity."