Barrage of criticism motivates DCE to snap back into top form

Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans followed up his worst game in years in round nine with one of his best before declaring he still loves giving it to the haters.

The 31-year-old club captain has 15 Tests, 10 Origins and a premiership to his name and is the incumbent owner of the Australian and Maroons No.7 jerseys.

But that didn't stop the doubters returning in force after a horror, error-riddled 80 minutes in round nine's big loss to the Dragons.

DCE responded in the best possible way: a commanding, match-winning effort against old rivals Parramatta in round 10.

The Sea Eagles skipper scored an impressive solo try and laid on another with a perfect kick for Joel Thompson, controlled proceedings well and kicked for nearly 600 metres.

With the game on the line in the final seconds after a late try to the Eels, who then needed an all-or-nothing miracle from Manly's final kick-off, Cherry-Evans lobbed a perfect short restart out wide for his side to regather the ball and seal the win.

"It definitely was very satisfying," Cherry-Evans smiled.

He freely admitted his stinker a week earlier had been playing on his mind.

"I think that's why I try to make these games standout games – because I love it when people give it to me," he added.

"I feel like I have played that story in my head my whole career about 'you're never good enough', people saying you're not good enough. I definitely used that as motivation and it's really pleasing after you motivate yourself and play well.

"I'm very motivated on weekly basis regardless of what the media say. But when I do get those weeks where I am a bit highlighted there is nothing more pleasing than responding with a good game. It's a good feeling."

The loss to St George Illawarra does still sting, with DCE hopeful his worst games at this point of his career would not be that bad.

"As players we are kidding ourselves if we are going to play at a 9 or 10 every week [but] that's the most disappointing part about last week, I felt as though as a player I had got past those standout bad games," he said.

"It was just a nice kick up the bum for where I was at and I need to do better. A lot of people inside and outside the club helped me this week, so it's nice to get support from the right people."

Cherry-Evans is a different mould of footballer to the many who rock up to training and games and totally switch off from footy for the rest of the time. He is aware of what is written and said about him and his club.

"I would say I have my ear to the ground when it comes to most things with footy," he said.

"I watch a lot of footy, so I hear a lot of stuff obviously. It's certainly not something that consumes me though. I have a really good balance of watching a lot of footy but tuning it out with the kids. That works for me, it doesn't work for everyone though."

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Part of the problem against the Dragons, and something he remedied against the Eels, was finding the balance about how much to take on himself in the absence of fellow playmakers Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker.

"Last week was the perfect example of taking too much on," her said.

"That's the honest truth with where I was at. [Saturday night] was a reflection of a really good week of preparation as a side.

"With that I take a lot of confidence from knowing the team has prepared well and I can just do me. I can just do what I do best and not worry about everyone else I put in performances like that."