'Go out there and express myself': Hugo ready to rise to challenge

Daly Cherry-Evans was brought to Bondi for one reason - to help the Roosters win a premiership.

With halfback Sam Walker ruled out with an ankle injury, the 37-year-old’s quest for a fairytale finish to his decorated career rests on a halves combination that has barely had the chance to develop.

Cherry-Evans will partner 24-year-old Hugo Savala in the Roosters’ qualifying final against Penrith on Sunday, with the pair having started just two games together in the halves all season.

It is a far cry from the combination Cherry-Evans had built with Walker, which helped steer the Roosters to fourth on the ladder with 16 wins from 24 games.

But rather than viewing their minimal experience in the halves together as a weakness, Cherry-Evans sees a golden opportunity.

“Once we were aware of the Sam situation, we have been training a lot together, so there’s a lot of reps done together,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I watched Hugo playing in the halves last year and really admired the way that he went after it, the style of footy that he plays.

“There’s a lot of skill in it, but there’s a really tough mentality. He attacks the game physically as well, so I’m really excited to play alongside him and I feel like we’re able to complement each other out there.”

Savala has played 40 NRL games and spent much of this season becoming one of Trent Robinson’s most valuable utilities - doing a job at centre, five-eighth, halfback and off the bench, and bagging eight tries along the way.

With the season on the line, he is back in his preferred role, wearing the No.6 jersey alongside one of the most experienced halfbacks the game has produced.

“We don’t need him to be Sam, we need Hugo to be Hugo,” Cherry-Evans said.

“Hugo’s got a very, very strong career ahead of him in the halves.”

Savala knows exactly what his role will be as he and DCE match motors with Panthers champion Nathan Cleary and the ever-reliable Jack Cole.

“Obviously Chez will play the senior role, be the traditional seven, but I’ll still have my input too,” Savala said.

“I’ll play my style and my football. We’ve got a good system in place here at the Roosters, so I can slot in there and play my role.

“It’s a great opportunity to go out there and express myself and be myself.”

Savala has had the box seat this season to see how the veteran conducts himself at training and on game day, learning from the way he communicates and controls the team around him.

“Probably a lot of stuff outside of football, the person he is and the way he conducts himself on the field and at training and the little parts of his game,” Savala said.

“He’s been big for me with the vocals and communication, how he gets the boys around the park. It’s been really key for me.”