Daly Cherry-Evans became only the third player from a losing team to win the Clive Churchill medal. Source: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
QUEENSLAND golden boy Daly Cherry-Evans was subjected to a chorus of boos after the Manly playmaker was the controversial recipient of the Clive Churchill Medal.
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Cherry-Evans, who made his Origin debut in June, capped a fine individual season when he was awarded the best-on-ground gong despite the Roosters' 26-18 triumph at ANZ Stadium.
But the Manly halfback's selection went down like a lead balloon with the Homebush crowd, with many believing Roosters five-eighth James Maloney deserved the honour after three try assists.
The award is decided by Test selectors Des Morris, Bob McCarthy, Allan Smith and Bob Fulton and the quartet were roundly pilloried by the crowd when Cherry-Evans' name was announced.
The Clive Churchill Medal is traditionally awarded to a player from the winning side, but Cherry-Evans handled the moment with characteristic class as he rose to accept the honour.
He was just the third player since the award's inception in 1986 to win the Medal from the losing side, joining Canberra's Bradley Clyde (1991) and St George's Brad Mackay (1993).
When asked if he was surprised to receive the award, the Maroons star was unequivocal.
"Yeah definitely," he said. "It has been stereotyped to a winning side so it was a surprising moment.
"I'd like to thank my teammates and coaching staff at Manly. It's been a fantastic year despite the result.
"It's a bitter-sweet moment ... I'd definitely swap that for a premiership."
The Manly halfback was by no means poor last night. He controlled play superbly in the opening 20 minutes and produced the bust and grubber kick that led to Jamie Lyon's 43rd-minute penalty try.
After 80 minutes of frenetic action, Cherry-Evans made two line-breaks, five tackle breaks and 15 kicks for 437 metres.
But few would argue Maloney was suprerior to his Manly rival. The NSW Origin pivot was outstanding, having a hand in three tries, the first for Anthony Tupou in the 25th minute before making the break that led to Shaun Kenny-Dowall's try on the hour.
And when Maloney slotted the 73rd minute grubber for Michael Jennings to clinch the title, it seemed he had one hand on the Churchill Medal.
But the selectors opted for Cherry-Evans, who will today be named in Australia's 24-man squad for the World Cup.
The Manly schemer is the fifth Sea Eagle to win the award, joining Cliff Lyons (1987), Geoff Toovey (1996), Brent Kite (2008) and Glenn Stewart (2011).
He is the second halfback to win the gong in consecutive years, with Melbourne's Cooper Cronk claiming the Churchill Medal last year.
Despite the controversial decision, Roosters coach Trent Robinson refused to be critical of Cherry-Evans.
"I thought Daly was awesome," he said.
"I thought he had a good game. He was a courageous player and he deserved to win it."
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