Manly's big win as DCE avoids ban at judiciary

Daly Cherry-Evans has avoided a ban after his charge was downgraded at the NRL judiciary.

The veteran Manly captain was hit with a grade two dangerous throw, but successfully appealed at the panel on Tuesday night and will be free to play this week.

Cherry-Evans was initially banned for two matches along with his teammate Haumole Olakau’atu after both men were involved in a tackle with Eels forward Shaun Lane.

The 35-year-old had never been suspended in his long career.

In giving evidence at the hearing, Cherry-Evans explained the tackle is not normally his first choice but one he’s used.

“I have got very comfortable with it and have never hurt anyone … this started to feel different. Usually I would fall to the ground in the tackle. I stayed standing, because the momentum in the tackle changes and doesn’t feel natural,” he said, citing his teammates’ lifting action.

”… With the size of the other two people in the tackle I don’t feel I could do anything. I admit that I played a role in the tackle but I feel the tackle got to a point where it was out of my control.”

NRL legal counsel Lachlan Giles SC argued that Cherry-Evans was a contributor to the dangerous position Lane was put in.