Rugby league can work in mysterious ways.
Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty has been hoping for months that his club will trigger a $650,000 option in their favour for 2026.
Canberra officials have to decide by Round 6, while there is an option in Fogarty’s favour worth considerably less that has to be triggered by Round 20.
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Enter Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans’ bombshell announcement on Monday night that he’d be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The move caught Manly officials off guard and they’re now scrambling to find a halfback for next year.
They could move Tom Trbojevic to five-eighth and shift Luke Brooks to halfback which would allow rising star Lehi Hopoate to play fullback.
But the club has identified 31-year-old Fogarty as their preferred option in the halves, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
That spells bad news for the Raiders who now find themselves in a bidding war for their veteran half who they thought they’d get for unders.
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Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has agreed to fly to the Gold Coast and meet with Fogarty’s management company late next week, according to The SMH.
Stuart is reportedly refusing to deal with Fogarty’s agent, Tas Bartlett, and will instead meet with Chris Orr from the same management company.
The Raiders have made a strong start to the season with Fogarty steering the ship but Braith Anasta believes Cherry-Evans is the only halfback who can lead Manly to a title.
“No one likes your teammates leaving and time will tell, but they all want to win the comp and now he’s leaving this is their last chance,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
“They’ve got no one really to replace him with. You talk about premiership windows, it is now, it is this year with Daly.”
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