'Chasing that feeling': DCE completes long-awaited return to the summit
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Daly Cherry-Evans spent 15 years chasing this feeling.
The elation of tasting victory on grand final day and claiming an NRL premiership.
On Sunday night, 15 long years after winning the 2011 grand final as a rookie with the Sea Eagles, Cherry-Evans finally caught that magic for a second time.
Roosters v Knights – Grand Final, 2026
The victory came in the veteran's final game in the NRL, Cherry-Evans kicking the field goal that ultimately secured the Roosters a 19-18 victory over the Knights in one of his last moments before moving to Hull to play in the Super League.
Plenty has changed in the past 15 years but the emotions of winning a grand final remain the same.
"Winning one as a younger fella, I was very aware of how fortunate I'd been in the great side that we had to get the job done in 2011," Cherry-Evans said.
From the field: Daly Cherry-Evans
"I've been chasing that moment and that feeling my whole career. I've said that openly. I'm extremely competitive, I play to win.
"There were definitely rocky times but there was always an internal belief this was going to get done this year with this special group.
"We have an amazing coach, we have a fantastic leader and off the back of that you just have to do your job. At some stage, you're going to have to have your moment. With such amazing quality across the park, you don't have to do it all the time, you just have to do your moment when the moment comes.
"I'm proud of the group and fortunate to be part of two club's history, particularly this club."
Match: Roosters v Knights
Grand Final -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
In winning the grand final, Cherry-Evans became the oldest person in the NRL era to triumph on the first Sunday of October and set a new record for longest gap between premierships.
The triumph marks a fitting finale to one of the most decorated careers in recent rugby league history, the 37-year-old achieving success for club, state and country.
Along with his two premierships, Cherry-Evans won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2013 and was the Dally M Halfback of the Year in 2014.
The playmaker also featured in 26 State of Origin matches for Queensland, winning six series, and represented Australia in 21 Test matches.
After spending 14 years with the Sea Eagles, Cherry-Evans decided it was time to embark on a new challenge. The Roosters quickly emerged as the ideal match.
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In combining Cherry-Evans and young gun Sam Walker, the Tricolours were able to chase immediate success while continuing to develop their emerging halves.
The plan worked to perfection, Roosters coach Trent Robinson praising his star recruit for persevering through a turbulent start to the relationship before delivering on the game's biggest stage.
Cherry-Evans slots a field goal
"We talk about the long game and the short game," Robinson said. "The short game is all the moments, he's brought long game. The vision to sit back and say 'that's how you guys want to play, I'll look after where the ball goes, the rhythm of the sets'.
"The balance between him and Sammy took a while to get going. They're two genuine halfbacks who like being on the ball, it was going to take a little bit of time.
"Put simply, he's bought us the long game and, along with many other guys, he's bought us a premiership. It is fitting he kicked the field goal in that style to finish the game for us."
