Sea Eagles veteran Daly Cherry-Evans has conceded Nathan Cleary will wear the No.7 jersey for the Kangaroos if he’s fit, with the incumbent halfback potentially squeezed out of the Australian squad.

According to the SMH, Mal Meninga is reportedly finalising Kangaroos outfit, but it remains to be seen if Cleary will go under the knife to have surgery on his shoulder.

Cherry-Evans has played 25 games for the Kangaroos since debuting in 2013, but is reportedly set to slip down the pecking order despite wearing the No.7 in Australia’s last Test.

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Should Cleary be fit, Cherry-Evans could miss out on the squad altogether, with Eels gun Mitchell Moses expected to be included after a stellar Origin series.

The Manly star also admitted he’s coming closer to the end of his representative playing days and will have to make a decision regarding retirement to prolong his NRL career.

“If Nate is healthy, Nate plays,” Cherry-Evans said.

“It’s Nate’s jersey, Nate is the No. 7 when healthy. But there sounds like a bit of uncertainty there (with his injury) and that’s why I’m going to keep the door open.

“I didn’t think I was playing for Australia last year until grand final night when he [Cleary] got injured.

“I’m getting closer to retiring from rep footy, no doubt about it.

“There will be that thing for me to continue in the NRL, at some stage I might have to sacrifice rep footy, I definitely understand that, but I don’t think it’s right now, not.”

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