“He’s a true leader and sets such a great example for the younger fellas coming through. He’s had a few things during his career where he’s been hammered by the media and [others]; he definitely has thick skin.

“This game is massive for us. It’s on our home turf and it’s one we owe to ‘Chez’, who has given so much to the Manly club.”

What has not helped Manly nor Cherry-Evans is the shocking injury toll at the club, with the heavily depleted forward pack making life tough for the halfback.

Former Roosters premiership winner Bryan Fletcher alluded to that point on SEN when he said: “Imagine him [Cherry-Evans] playing behind that [Roosters] pack like Naufahu Whyte, Lindsay Collins.

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“This has been the knock on [Manly], how there’s no Haumole [Olakau’atu], no [Taniela] Paseka or Josh Aloiai. They’ve had no punch through the middle. I just think he makes that Roosters side next year a better team.”

Garrick said of Cherry-Evans: “He’s still as fit as a fiddle, he still puts in as much as any other person at training, if not more. He has that drive and hunger – I wouldn’t doubt seeing him go around again, for sure.”

Garrick injured his shoulder against the Tigers and will know in the coming weeks if he will require surgery.

While the injuries were not an excuse, they were also impossible to ignore, said Garrick, as he also dismissed the speculation about the future of coach Anthony Seibold.

“I love playing under [him] and he has the full support of the boys,” Garrick said.

Reuben Garrick was at East Hills on Tuesday to help launch the Telstra Footy Country Round, which is dedicated to celebrating the game’s community roots, including players wearing their junior club’s socks at training and in select games.