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How Hull FC signed Daly Cherry-Evans from surprise call, owner's big backing and marquee point

Inside Hull FC's Cherry-Evans deal from the call that got it going, the owner's green light, and the man who played the crucial part.

[New Hull FC signing Daly Cherry-Evans.]

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New Hull FC signing Daly Cherry-Evans.(Image: Getty)

It took one call from incoming Hull FC head coach Steve McNamara to CEO Richie Myler to get the Daly Cherry-Evans ball rolling.

Five days later, one of the biggest deals in the clubs history was done.

"Steve rang me and said 'I've got something for you'," Myler, speaking to Hull Live, said. "He said it could be really big, but it has to be kept quiet and kept between me and you. We then got into the detail of it, and it happened within five days.

"It was a nice phone call to take, but then after I was like, 'How do I ring Andrew (Thirkill) and David (Hood, co-owners) and get them on board with doing this?' But they were brilliant. I talked to them and they were like, 'Right, let's go.'

"There wasn't a lot of time to think and it all happened very quickly. There was a fair bit of dialogue between our owners and Steve and I to understand the financial commitment that it was going to take to sign Daly and whether we were able to do it. Once we got the green light from them, it was pretty quick after that."

A marquee man and box office signing, there's no doubting Hull's driving force to land the deal, and Myler, who kept the news from Hull's players and even club staff, is happy to pass credit where it's due.

"Steve was integral to this deal," the CEO continued. "We speak daily, hourly, and a large part of why Daly Cherry-Evans is coming to Hull is because of Steve. It just flowed from there and felt right.

"The way that Daly and his management team work, it's very private. Steve had a couple of conversations between Daly and his management team and Daly did his homework. He works with Trent Robinson (Sydney Roosters head coach) and he knows he has that relationship with Steve in the past. It was very quickly boxed off. We got it signed and announced within five days."

Time will tell how big Cherry-Evans' impact will be at Hull, but there's no doubting his current stature within the game and his current form leading the Roosters to the top of the NRL table after a Player of the Match performance against Penrith last week.

"Its a fantastic signing for the club," Myler said. "It's a credit to the owners. They really want to back our next journey as a club.

"I think it's a really big moment for our club and our fans. They have stuck with us through some pretty dire moments and this is a nod that the club is trying to do the right thing and get back on track."

Myler isn't nave to think signing Cherry-Evans solves all of Hull's problems, but it's a good start. For good measure, Bailey Hodgson, Alrix Da Costa, and Isaac Liu have also signed on the dotted line with more new players in the pipeline.

"Daly is one of many crucial appointments that we are going to be making over the next period of time," the CEO explained. "We know we need to get the next bit right, but Daly on his own is a huge thing. You can see that from the reaction it's got.

"It's exactly what we needed and it gives Steve the confidence to deliver what he wants to the group. He's got somebody there who has got the capabilities and understanding to help him drive just that."

And as for that responsibility, Cherry-Evans is well-aware of what's required. He is a marquee man, and he's all in to help do his bit and turn the club's fortunes around.

"It was important that he understood the vision of the club," Myler said. "The English competition is different from the NRL, and he wanted to understand how ambitious we could be and he felt that from our ownership and he felt that from Steve's passion about turning this club around.

"He knows what is expected and he knows that when you're a marquee player, you have to have an influence on everything. You have to be a great player but you have to raise the standard of everything else.

"I think Daly will raise the standards of everyone within this organisation. And that's what it does. It puts everyone on their toes. Players want to play with people like that.

"It's exciting. You want to be around those people who have the capability to win, but if we can get our environment to be highly competitive with the right players, then it gives us a good chance. Daly will do that. I think he will adapt to Super League really well and he will make the players around him play better.

"You just look at his durability and how many games he's played at that high level. You listen to people within the game who have worked with him, and you trust the opinion of these people.

"The way he prepares and the way that he looks after himself and the way he goes about his business is ultra-professional, and that's the bit that excites you. It shows in his numbers. You can't play the games he has played at that level by taking shortcuts.

"He's only on a one-year deal but he's coming here to do a job. He might come here and blow all of our socks off. We don't know. But he's coming here with a very clear objective of helping us to get back on track."

And as for the elephant in the room, Cherry-Evans' marquee status doesn't mean that a current marquee player has to leave. Hull currently having three - John Asiata, Herman Ese'ese, and Will Pryce - on the books.

"Salary cap management is something that me and Tony (Sutton) do daily," Myler added. "It's about being smart on who you choose to be marquee and who you don't.

"The reality is we've got some scope. We could keep all three marquee positions we've currently got and bring Daly in. Whether that's the right call, we're still ongoing with those conversations, but we could do that. It's not a case of somebody needs to leave for Daly to come in."

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