Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has gone from being undecided on his future beyond 2025 to wanting a two-year contract extension as rival clubs consider making a play for his services.
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Cherry-Evans is off-contract in 2025, with reports suggesting he could retire after this season, but it now appears he wants to play on for another two seasons and rival clubs are ready to pounce if Manly don’t lock him up.
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Phil Rothfield believes Cherry-Evans is in a similar position to Adam Reynolds at the Rabbitohs in that he wants a longer-term deal and the club just want to give him one year.
“He’s 36 years of age and I think he is in an almost identical position to Adam Reynolds at the South Sydney Rabbitohs three years ago, except he’s older than Adam Reynolds,” Rothfield said on NRL 360.
“He wants a two-year deal and he wants decent money. Despite his age, he’s only missed 20 games in 15 years. A lot of those were Origin. He is very durable.
“He wants a two-year deal from 2026. One year with a one-year option.”
Cherry-Evans was a local junior at the Redcliffe Dolphins, with Gorden Tallis asking if a romantic return to his home town was a possibility.
“Is there any chance of him going back to the Dolphins and finishing where it all started?” Tallis asked.
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Rothfield revealed the Dolphins are waiting out the Manly talks before making a play, but Cherry-Evans will have to take a pay cut to stay at the Sea Eagles.
“I spoke to Terry Reader, the Dolphins CEO, last week and put it to him was there any interest?” Rothfield said.
“And he said, we are watching the Manly negotiations closely to see what happens.
“They don’t want to go yet till they’re told to make an offer.
“I think Manly have offered him one year and I think they’re bringing him back to about$600,000 when he’s been a million-dollar player.
“Players at his age, like Paul Gallen at Cronulla and like Ben Hunt at the Broncos have to take a pretty serious haircut.”
Brent Read believes Cherry-Evans has earnt enough money and should take the one year at Manly and play well to earn another in 2027.
“I think at 37 and as durable as Daly has been, he’s 37 that first year of the new contract, so if I’m Manly, I’m probably only offering him one year as well,” Read said.
“Maybe with an option clause built in. He owns half of Northern Greece. How much money do you want?
“He wins all the fitness tests at Manly. He has his whole career.”
“He doesn’t miss football games,” Rothfield added.
“If he plays another two years, he’ll pass 400 games.”
However, a connection with former Manly assistant Shane Flanagan could see the struggling Dragons make a play for Cherry-Evans to help with their halves predicament.
“Outside of Redcliffe, there’s a little bit of a whisper around that the Dragons might have some interest in him,” Rothfield said.
“It’s been well-publicised there half situation at the moment. It’s only Round 2, but it’s not going gangbusters.
“Flanagan coached Daly Cherry-Evans at Manly. I think there might be a little bit of interest.
“And when you’re desperate, good clubs don’t have to offer him two years. But when you’re desperate to have direction in your footy side, you’ve got to take a risk.”
However, Read believes Cherry-Evans wants to win a premiership and Manly are better placed to do so than the Dragons.
“Does Daly at the age of 37, want to go to the Dragons, a club that’s in a rebuild, when he can stay at Manly and contend for a premiership?” Read said.
“Yeah look, it’s one year, but if you play well, you’ll get another year out of Manly.”
“I would hope he doesn’t go,” Rothfield added.
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Braith Anasta can’t see Cherry-Evans leaving Manly unless it is to go home to Queensland with his family.
“I don’t think he would go to the Dragons,” Anasta said.
“If you’re him, you’ve played your whole career at Manly, you live in Manly, and just over one year, you get up and leave to go to the Dragons?
“I couldn’t really see that unless he went back to Queensland.
“I don’t think he’ll leave, I’m thinking if anything they’re just leveraging the other clubs at the moment, and trying to get what they want at Manly.”
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Rothfield agreed Manly are the favourites to keep Cherry-Evans for the rest of his career, but they need to work out a deal that suits both parties.
“I think his family are very happily settled on the Northern Beaches for the rest of their lives,” Rothfield said.
“But Redcliffe is home isn’t it?”
The Titans were also put forward as a potential suitor, given Cherry-Evans’ close relationship with Des Hasler.
“Well, you know what? When DCE got married, Des was one of the first on the guest list,” Rothfield said.
“Have they forgiven him, though for all those years ago?” Read interjected.
“The Backflip? Wouldn’t that be a story? If he went back there and finished his career at the Gold Coast?”
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