Player Manaia Cherrington

[mt.wellington]

[Signing] Cherrington joins club
Richard Becht | Image: www.photosport.nz
Fri 9th June, 12:58PM

Former Wests Tigers and Cronulla hooker Manaia Cherrington is joining the Vodafone Warriors for the rest of this season and next on a second-tier contract.

A member of the Kiwis’ squad in England in 2015, the 22-year-old has been granted an immediate release from his one-year contract with the Sharks.

He is set to debut for the Vodafone Warriors’ Intrust Super Premiership side against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in west Sydney on Sunday (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).

Cherrington was signed by the Vodafone Warriors after Erin Clark approached the club seeking a release from his contract.

Clark, who made his NRL debut against Melbourne in round two this season, has been used mainly at NYC level this year.

“Erin’s management sought a release on personal grounds,” said Vodafone Warriors recruitment and development manager Tony Iro.

“It’s disappointing for Erin but he has our support and best wishes for the future.

“Fortunately, we were able to secure Manaia as a replacement. He has come through the system with Wests Tigers as well as being involved with both the Junior Kiwis and the Kiwis.”

Whangarei-born Cherrington made 45 NYC appearances for Wests Tigers in 2013-2014 before going on to his NRL debut for the club, playing a total of 16 first-grade matches in 2015 and 2016. He also toured England with the Kiwis in late 2015 although he didn’t play in any of the three Tests.

First a Junior Kiwi in 2013, he led the national under-20 side to a 15-14 victory over the Junior Kangaroos at Mount Smart Stadium in 2014.

Clark made his NYC debut for the Vodafone Junior Warriors as a 17-year-old in 2015. He made 27 appearances that season and took his career total to 45 this year. He was used 14 times at ISP level last season and once this year.

MANAIA CHERRINGTON

Date of birth: August 3, 1994

Birthplace: Whangarei, NZ

Junior Club: Quakers Hill Destroyers (Sydney)

Position: Hooker

Height: 1.77m

Weight: 85kg

Rep Honours: Kiwis (2015), Junior Kiwis (2013-2014)

Previous Clubs: Wests vTigers (2015-2016), Cronulla (2017)

NRL Debut: Wests Tigers v Gold Coast, Leichhardt Oval, June 5, 2015 (Rd 13)

NRL Career: 16 appearances for Wests Tigers (2015-2016)

NRL Points: 4 (1 try)

https://www.warriors.kiwi/cherringtonsigned

 

[Whiteknight]

is he any good?

 

[InsideBall]

I know there were huge raps on him coming through the grades at the Tigers, and it seems to just not have happened for him yet. Kid is only 22 though... So, anything is possible.

 

[Kalcod]

Another bench warmer? We have a few who can play hooker at the moment, why another?

 

[Hadyn]

Another bench warmer? We have a few who can play hooker at the moment, why another?

Yup,the Warriors recruitment Department is really going for it at the moment.

 

[Waiting For Premiership]

is he any good?

Nope.
Think SK got him cause he picked him for the Kiwi squad a few years ago. So he must have seen something in him ? Even tho other coach's didn't....Go The Process..

 

[Hadyn]

is he any good?

Released by Tigers and not wanted by Sharks so probably not.Big claim to fame by memory was when Fox sports
covered his family members and some other hangers on doing a haka out the back of the stands at Leichart Oval after his first grade debut.....stirring stuff.....apart from that not much.

 

[Brother Faisal]

It's a good signing just at the wrong time. They aren't getting to the needs of the team yet. We're signing and letting go of anything other that props.

 

[Selector]

Very good player offensively. But poor on defence. The fact that hes signed on a 2nd tier contract and not top 30 is a good piece of business from the club in my opinion. Has the potential if he can learn to defend to have a good NRL career. And has been posted still only 22.

 

[Iafetas Kickstand Wang]

is he any good?

In a word...... No.

 

[Weno]

Hope Erin is well.
Really like that kid.
If he is seeking another opportunity somewhere else, wish the kid all the best.
Let a good one on the rise go.

Knows he is not part of the process.

Welcome to the Warriors Manaia.

 

[Bunty]

is he any good?

I think he will be good for us. He didn't get much of an opportunity with the Sharks this year. He's a upgrade on Clark and will be competing with Roache for the bench spot in first grade.
He has a lot of potential - named in the NYC team of the year in 2014, has captained our Junior Kiwi team and made the Kiwis Four Nations squad in 2015.
I can't wait to see how he goes

 

[Horriors2014]

In a word...... No.

Bro you're a real pessimist. But the evidence shows he has potential. He has repped. He was named U20s hooker of the year. He was grounded in an Aussie environment. Opinions of some coaches I've had say he has a good attitude. I do wonder if his size will hurt his game. But along with Ata and Roache, I think we have the makings of a good reserve tier of players. Good spine players are few and far between, even in Aussie. But those 3 together look promising.

 

[Horriors2014]

It's a good signing just at the wrong time. They aren't getting to the needs of the team yet. We're signing and letting go of anything other that props.

I'm a little worried about that myself. But let's look at what the squad looks like currently. Gavet and Lilyman to start. Pulu and Sao off the bench. Possibly Lisone and Vete in reserves. Gavet, Pulu and Sao are of decent size. Not enormous, but around 108-110 kgs. If you add one huge prop to the team, we don't look so bad, with Harris and Mannering second row, and maybe this is where Lisone becomes lock and Vete a prop/lock? Our potential to bend the line increases and create second phase play (which we saw in more abundance tonight than I have in about 5 years). I'd back that pack to have enough heart to set up the backs.

 

[Iafetas Kickstand Wang]

Bro you're a real pessimist. But the evidence shows he has potential. He has repped. He was named U20s hooker of the year. He was grounded in an Aussie environment. Opinions of some coaches I've had say he has a good attitude. I do wonder if his size will hurt his game. But along with Ata and Roache, I think we have the makings of a good reserve tier of players. Good spine players are few and far between, even in Aussie. But those 3 together look promising.

That was me being optimistic - I always look on the bright side

 

[Brother Faisal]

I'm a little worried about that myself. But let's look at what the squad looks like currently. Gavet and Lilyman to start. Pulu and Sao off the bench. Possibly Lisone and Vete in reserves. Gavet, Pulu and Sao are of decent size. Not enormous, but around 108-110 kgs. If you add one huge prop to the team, we don't look so bad, with Harris and Mannering second row, and maybe this is where Lisone becomes lock and Vete a prop/lock? Our potential to bend the line increases and create second phase play (which we saw in more abundance tonight than I have in about 5 years). I'd back that pack to have enough heart to set up the backs.

yeah we're probably one dominant prop and ball playing backrower away but agree with most of what you said.

 

[Guvna Mac]

Is he playing for the reserves today? If so good luck young fella go hard!

 

[snake77]

He obviously has potential seeing as the Sharks specifically recruited him for first grade before Ennis became available and I believe he was in the Kiwis squad at some point. That selection was also probably to help build depth seeing as halves and dummy half are usually positions we don't have great depth.

The post Defence wrote in the Recruitment thread mentioning how the Sharks fans were surprised he was still on the books shows a few things. He obviously fell pretty far out of favour and how good would it be to be one of the top clubs where your team is going so well you can joke about a squad member is leaving. Your side is going so well a previous high profile recruit isn't even considered for first grade.

Looking at the facebook post from the club on his signing the club was getting a lot of criticism for having so many dummy halves on their books. Besides the fact it is a guy on a second tier contract replacing another guy on a second tier contract. Also people listing that Roache will probably leave now that Cherrington has signed as others have listed here his girl friend is based in Australia so there is a good chance he will leave because of that. Mind you being stuck on the bench doesn't help. He will probably leave and the club will release the details and everyone will be see they pushed him out.

 

[Bunty]

I hate it how everyone says we have so many hookers. We have 3. Luke, Roache and Cherrington.
Sam Cook is a reserve grade utility and Jazz Tevaga is a backrower. You can't really consider Erin Clark as a hooker because he mostly played at Lock for the Juniors.

 

[Five&Last]

It was a nothing buy IMO. I've watched quite bit of the guy and still don't know what he's really that good at. I don't really trust SK or Iro's eye for talent at all.

I dont really understand Erin leaving, thought he had potential, but at the same time, his game didn't really translate to first grade that well because he relies on overpowering and physically bullying other players which won't work in first grade.

I like Roache and those that think Cherrington is an upgrade over him have probably seen all his U20s accolades but haven't really watched any of his recent stuff to form an opinion of him. Once Roache gets regular game time, I can see him cutting markers to shreds with his speed. He is without doubt our hooker of the future once Luke's contract is up.

I also might add that I had never really been too much of a fan of Eiden Ackland in our U20's team because I thought he would never make it because of his small size. But wow my opinion has definitely changed, since he's moved to hooker he looks like a whole new player. Our atrociously bad U20's side is 2 wins from the last 3 games since he moved to hooker. His game looks the closest to Cam Smith's that we will probably ever see from a junior hooker at this club. Incredible game intelligence. The club need to make it their mission to get this kid in the weight room 24/7.