The knock-on effects of Manly icon’s seismic shift
Melissa Woods |
Manly great Daly Cherry-Evans has completed one of the most high-profile shifts in NRL history, joining the Sydney Roosters.
Cherry-Evans’ departure marks the first time a player with 350-plus games has ever changed clubs, coming after the 36-year-old failed to reach an agreement with the Sea Eagles.
The arrival of the veteran, who is set to partner Sam Walker in the halves, shapes as a significant boost to the Roosters’ premiership hopes, with the Bondi club finally confirming the move after months of speculation.
Cherry-Evans will formally join the Roosters later this month.
It raises questions about the future of local youngster Hugo Savala, who had a breakout season in the halves and is currently a free agent, able to sign on with rivals for the 2027 season.
“Daly’s experience and understanding of the game will be a strong addition to our group and we’re excited to welcome him to the Roosters,” coach Trent Robinson said in a statement on Friday.
“I’m looking forward to working with him.”
The only remaining active NRL player born in the 1980s, Cherry-Evans shocked the league in March when revealing he would leave the Sea Eagles at season’s end.
Cherry-Evans leaves an immense void at Manly; statistics indicate no single player at any club has had a bigger and better impact in the past two decades.
No player in NRL history has started more games at halfback for one club, wearing the No.7 jersey in all 352 of his matches in his 15 seasons.
Winning a premiership in his rookie 2011 season, he’s had more than 18,000 touches of the ball, set up 319 tries and scored 98.
The former Manly captain’s 29 field goals are a record for the NRL era, as are his seven golden-point winners.
Dropped after game one of this year’s State of Origin series, Cherry-Evans played 26 games for Queensland and 21 Tests for Australia.
For the first time since 1987, Manly will now enter the 2026 season without a Sea Eagles premiership winner on their books.
They have recruited Canberra’s Jamal Fogarty to partner Luke Brooks in the halves next year.
AAP
