“MY rep career right now is non-existent. That’s the honest part of it.”

Call him what you will, but right now Daly Cherry-Evans is calling a spade a bloody shovel in a bid to dig himself out of representative obscurity.

Two years ago Daly Cherry-Evans was Queensland’s starting halfback in Origin II in what was viewed as a watershed moment in succeeding Cooper Cronk as the Maroons and Kangaroos No. 7.

He failed to take it and hasn’t played Origin or added to his 11 Australian Test caps since, though he was brought into Queensland camp last year when an ankle injury threatened to again rule Cronk out of action.

Round 19

In any case Cherry-Evans has since fallen well down the playmaking ranks, trailing the likes of Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt, Michael Morgan, James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce as next in line for higher honours behind automatic starters Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.

“My rep career right now is non-existent,” a candid Cherry-Evans told foxsports.com.au.

Daly Cherry-Evans last foray into the Origin arena ended in a loss in 2015. Pic Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

“I haven’t played rep footy in a couple of years and I don’t believe I’ve played a level of football that warrants me wearing a rep jersey at the moment.

“That’s one of the big things that I walked away with last year. Understanding where I am in the pecking order. That doesn’t sit well with me.

“That’s something I really do want to change but as clichéd as it sounds, I really do just have to work hard at Manly. I feel as though I am working harder than ever before to right the wrongs of last year.

“That’s not just playing rep football, that’s playing well and rewarding Manly with some good football.”

He’ll do so as Manly’s new skipper after the club announced his elevation to the role last week.

Cherry-Evans’ slide has coincided with that of the Sea Eagles, who have missed the past two finals series and all but razed Brookvale to the ground in rebuilding the club following a golden generation that delivered 10 straight semis appearances.

Just like the maroon and whites’ fortunes in 2017, Cherry-Evans is adamant his own rep aspirations are far from dead and buried.

He’s also under no illusions on how much work it will take to revive them after a 2016 campaign that delivered career lows in his try-assist, tackle bust, running metres and offload tallies, and just one, single line break from 19 games.

“Rep footy is a reward,” Cherry-Evans said.

“It’s a massive reward and it’s not something that’s just handed out. There are people who never get the chance to play it in their career.

“I had the opportunity to do it and I let that opportunity slide. I’m fortunate enough, I think, that it is in my hands to get that back if I play at a level that I hold myself to, and that my teammates hold me to, I can get back there in a rep jersey.

“Maybe not this year, maybe not next year. But I will be back there.”

Privately his Manly teammates are saying they’ve never seen their star half look better or train harder than this summer, and Trent Barrett has hailed his efforts throughout the pre-season.

Cherry-Evans is confident the same approach will bear fruit come March when the season kicks off proper, admitting a difficult couple of years on both a personal and team front had taken their toll.

“I learnt a lot about myself last year and where I stand as a rugby league player and what I need to improve to be elite again,” he said.

“If it makes sense I’m focusing on being more focused.

Daly Cherry-Evans hasn’t played for Australia since 2014. Pic Jono Searle. Source: News Corp Australia

“When I’m at training, making sure I’m fully on board with it, with the extras, my recovery and not getting complacent.

“When I do have the chance at training to hone in on those skills, I want to be more focused on that.

“I think the best way to describe it I was falling a little bit complacent at times, and maybe using excuses like injuries and bad scheduling to not put my head down and not work as hard as I could have.”

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