Kangaroos star Johnathan Thurston admits the form of rising playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans has put him and halves partner Cooper Cronk on notice at the Rugby League World Cup.
Cherry-Evans has been included in Australia’s 20-man squad for Saturday’s quarter-final against the US in Wrexham after impressing in two games during the group stage.
While the Manly playmaker is likely to be handed a spot on the bench in the final 17, coach Tim Sheens says the 24-year-old is also putting pressure on the first-choice halves for a starting spot.
And veteran five-eighth Thurston has welcomed the competition provided by Cherry-Evans’ excellent performances against Fiji and Ireland.
“That’s what we need whenever you’re playing for Australia, that healthy competition and that’s what it’s all about,” Thurston told AAP on Wednesday.
“As you’ve seen against Ireland on the weekend, Daly did a wonderful job of stepping in.
“No doubt if we don’t perform, Sheensy will have no hesitation in making those changes.”
Cherry-Evans stepped in for both Cronk and Thurston on separate occasions when the pair were rested during the group campaign, with the 24-year-old named man of the match against Ireland last week.
His selection in the squad to face the Tomahawks came at the expense of Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah but Cherry-Evans isn’t getting ahead of himself thinking he has sewn up a utility spot on the bench.
“It’s one step closer to hopefully being named this weekend,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I’m not counting my chickens too early. I’m still thereabouts in Tim’s mind, hopefully come Saturday I’ll be thereabouts in the 17.
“Hopefully I can continue to reward (Sheens) if I am in the squad come Saturday.”
While Cherry-Evans is ambitious, he played down any rivalry between him and fellow Queenslanders Thurston and Cronk.
“I still see myself as the rookie behind those two,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I need to make sure when I am in the side or when I am getting a game that I ask them for advice and try and benefit myself and getting them to go back on their past experiences and lend a hand.”
Australia are unbackable favourites against the Tomahawks, the 500-1 tournament outsiders who have defied the odds to reach the last eight.
But Cherry-Evans insists the World Cup surprise packets deserve the same level of respect as any other side.
“We aren’t taking them any lighter than an England or Kiwi side,” Cherry-Evans said.
“We will be on our game and playing the best football we can.”
