Daly Cherry-Evans has told Manly he will leave the club after the 2025 season, with the club sensationally countering with a contract offer live on Fox League.
Nine reports the Sea Eagles skipper hasn’t made up his mind whether he’ll retire or play elsewhere.
The 36-year-old halfback is instead expected to wait until later in the season to decide whether he wants a new contract for 2026.
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The Dolphins, Dragons and Roosters have been linked to Cherry-Evans.
He has played in two grand finals, a premiership and nine finals series since debuting for Manly in 2011.
On NRL 360, reporter Brent Read got a text live on air that the Dolphins and the Roosters were the two clubs that were leading the race to sign Cherry-Evans.
However, Manly then made the sensational call to counter the offer live on air and give Cherry-Evans the two years he was seeking.
“Breaking news (Sea Eagles CEO Tony) Mestrov and (Sea Eagles owner Scott) Penn have just contacted Fox League and said they are going to counter this with a new offer, so they don’t believe this is over,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
“They are going to counter this with a two-year offer to DCE, so this is far from over by the sounds of it.”
Phil Rothfield then spoke to the Manly chairman during an ad break.
“I just spoke to the owner and chairman Scott Penn, who was surprised with the reports and said, they have not been officially told what has been reported elsewhere that Cherry-Evans is leaving,” Rothfield said.
“He said Manly were always under the impression that it was a one-year offer to him, but there was no hurry and we will chat when you are comfortable.
“He confirmed that they will now offer him two years and do everything possible to keep him at Manly.”
Brent Read spoke to Manly CEO Tony Mestrov during an ad break.
“It is getting a bit ugly,” Read said.
“I spoke to Tony Mestrov and he said similar to what Scott Penn said. I think they have been caught off-guard by it.
“I don’t think they are convinced that Daly is going to go around again.”
Anasta questioned the diconnect between Cherry-Evans and the club.
“I can’t get my head around the mixed messages,” Anasta said.
“He is telling Fairfax that he is moving on at the end of the season and the club are being told that he may retire at the end of the year. This is all over the place.”
MORE TO COME
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