He’s kicked more 40/20s than any other player in the last decade but Daly Cherry-Evans won’t be rushing to take advantage of the NRL’s new 20/40 rule.

Cherry-Evans is regarded as one of the best kickers in the game, having successfully booted 26 40/20s for Manly since his debut in 2011.

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Round 19

No other player has kicked more than 21 in that time, while Cherry-Evans’ five last season were also the most in the NRL.

Under the NRL’s new rules for 2020, teams can regain possession when they kick the ball from inside their own 20 and find touch past their opponent’s 40-metre line.

But it isn’t without risk.

Realistically, teams are most often inside their own 20-metre zone in set play when they are under immense pressure, with their forwards already on the back foot.

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That would often require halves to kick early in the set and risk giving up possession quickly, while laos gambling with the possibility of putting the ball out on the full and handing it over on their own line.

“We have had this conversation at training,” Cherry-Evans told AAP.

“The biggest dictator for me will be how my forwards are going. I’m not going to throw them under the bus if they are exhausted.

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“Because the reality is I’m going back to near the wing to defend and they are going to have to tackle.

“There will be a time and a place where my instincts are going to take over and I’m just going to do it when the moment is right.

“But if I am looking around and my forwards are looking at me going don’t you even think about it, then I won’t be doing it.” Just 39 40/20s were kicked in 201 games last season, and it’s expected that 20/40s will be even rarer.

The Sea Eagles No.7 suspects the most likely time for them will be off scrums on a team’s own line, where space is more likely available for kickers.

Daly Cherry-Evans is reluctant to put extra pressure on his forwards with the new 20/40 rule. Source: Getty Images

“It will be a very, very big play. It’s obviously going to add a great element of surprise to our game and unpredictability which is fantastic,” the Queensland captain said.

“I think it will make teams a little bit cautious on their edges there to come out and try and shut you down.

“But at the end of the day the 40-20 is instinctual, and I think the 20-40 will be the same. You’ll see some halves go for it more than others.

“Who takes advantage of it the most I’m not sure. I’m going to back our big boys to get us out of trouble rather than me kicking it.”

MOST 40/20s SINCE 2011: Daly Cherry-Evans - 26 Cooper Cronk - 21 Chris Sandow - 19 Cameron Smith - 15 Andrew McCullough - 12 * Stats: Fox Sports