Club News 2025
- Thread starter The Wheel
- Start date
You are allowed to be mate, its that time of year lol
Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
From the SMH. One or two errors in the article. See if you can spot them:
Trbojevic faces switch to halves with Cherry-Evans’ future in doubt
By Michael Chammas
Daly Cherry-Evans has backflipped on his decision to play on in 2026, telling Manly he wants to see how the season unfolds before committing to what would be the 16th season of his glittering NRL career.
Cherry-Evans’ decision comes as Manly draw up a potential succession plan that would see fullback Tom Trbojevic move into the halves when the premiership-winning halfback hangs up the boots.
Last month Cherry-Evans told the Sea Eagles he wanted to play on beyond the end of his 2025 contract, but at a meeting to decide his future on Thursday he said he’d had a change of heart and wanted to leave his options open.
He did, however, say he wanted to end his career as a one-club player and Manly agreed to hold a position open in their 2026 roster in case he decides he still has more football in him.
In preparation for Cherry-Evans’ potential retirement at the end of 2025, Manly have discussed shifting Trbojevic to five-eighth in 2026, a move that would enable them to secure young gun Lehi Hopoate on a long-term deal as the club’s fullback.
Should Cherry-Evans decide to stay on past next season, he will likely have to take a significant pay cut to squeeze into the salary cap because Manly had not budgeted for him beyond his current contract.
The Queensland captain, who also hasn’t yet decided whether he will play State of Origin in 2025, is on a deal worth close to $1 million in 2025. He is still playing at a high level and is arguably ranked among the top four halfbacks in the competition, alongside Nathan Cleary ($1.2m), Mitchell Moses ($1.25m) and Jahrome Hughes ($900,000).
The Sea Eagles, however, have already spent big money on retaining the likes of Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Jason Saab and Taniela Paseka and have salary cap restraints in 2026.
They also want to give Hopoate, who was impressive at fullback for Tonga in the Pacific Championship at the end of the season, a pathway to make the No.1 jersey his own. He is currently on a development contract for 2025.
Hopoate’s elevation includes the potential shift of Trbojevic into the unfamiliar No.6 role, a positional switch that was flagged with the player a few months ago. That would mean Luke Brooks taking over the No.7 jersey vacated by Cherry-Evans.
The Sea Eagles have also attracted rising star Onitoni Large, 17, from the Wests Tigers. He is considered a long-term halves option for Manly.
Cherry-Evans has been a loyal servant to the club throughout his entire career, leading Manly to nine finals series, two grand finals and a premiership in his 14 seasons since debuting in 2011.
He reneged on a deal to join the Gold Coast Titans early in his career, instead signing a long-term extension with the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles haven’t tabled a formal offer for Cherry-Evans but have indicated how much they would be willing to spend to keep him on the books in 2026 if he decides to stay on.
Trbojevic faces switch to halves with Cherry-Evans’ future in doubt
By Michael Chammas
Daly Cherry-Evans has backflipped on his decision to play on in 2026, telling Manly he wants to see how the season unfolds before committing to what would be the 16th season of his glittering NRL career.
Cherry-Evans’ decision comes as Manly draw up a potential succession plan that would see fullback Tom Trbojevic move into the halves when the premiership-winning halfback hangs up the boots.
Last month Cherry-Evans told the Sea Eagles he wanted to play on beyond the end of his 2025 contract, but at a meeting to decide his future on Thursday he said he’d had a change of heart and wanted to leave his options open.
He did, however, say he wanted to end his career as a one-club player and Manly agreed to hold a position open in their 2026 roster in case he decides he still has more football in him.
In preparation for Cherry-Evans’ potential retirement at the end of 2025, Manly have discussed shifting Trbojevic to five-eighth in 2026, a move that would enable them to secure young gun Lehi Hopoate on a long-term deal as the club’s fullback.
Should Cherry-Evans decide to stay on past next season, he will likely have to take a significant pay cut to squeeze into the salary cap because Manly had not budgeted for him beyond his current contract.
The Queensland captain, who also hasn’t yet decided whether he will play State of Origin in 2025, is on a deal worth close to $1 million in 2025. He is still playing at a high level and is arguably ranked among the top four halfbacks in the competition, alongside Nathan Cleary ($1.2m), Mitchell Moses ($1.25m) and Jahrome Hughes ($900,000).
The Sea Eagles, however, have already spent big money on retaining the likes of Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Jason Saab and Taniela Paseka and have salary cap restraints in 2026.
They also want to give Hopoate, who was impressive at fullback for Tonga in the Pacific Championship at the end of the season, a pathway to make the No.1 jersey his own. He is currently on a development contract for 2025.
Hopoate’s elevation includes the potential shift of Trbojevic into the unfamiliar No.6 role, a positional switch that was flagged with the player a few months ago. That would mean Luke Brooks taking over the No.7 jersey vacated by Cherry-Evans.
The Sea Eagles have also attracted rising star Onitoni Large, 17, from the Wests Tigers. He is considered a long-term halves option for Manly.
Cherry-Evans has been a loyal servant to the club throughout his entire career, leading Manly to nine finals series, two grand finals and a premiership in his 14 seasons since debuting in 2011.
He reneged on a deal to join the Gold Coast Titans early in his career, instead signing a long-term extension with the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles haven’t tabled a formal offer for Cherry-Evans but have indicated how much they would be willing to spend to keep him on the books in 2026 if he decides to stay on.
madmax
Bencher
Lolol….14 years or 16 years? Debuted in 2011 so really 13 years?
I
It's football maths, not that different to wife shopping maths.....I saved this much...
double hoops
First Grader
Half the team in Brissy this morning. All looking super trim and fit.
Clear celebration for Toff, and further bonding during today's test.
Great to see our Eagles nesting.
A Team that plays together, Stays together.
Clear celebration for Toff, and further bonding during today's test.
Great to see our Eagles nesting.
A Team that plays together, Stays together.
at least you are a chance.... each time i tried to log in to renew my membership the site glitched. couldn't call them due to my work hours so sent email & never got a reply.
so no membership for me from santa this year.
guess i will wait until next year and decide wether or not to renew then.
He has played 14 seasons. 2011 - 2024.
If he was to sign on for 2026 it would be his 16th season.
As Hunt signed for $600K with Broncos and is a current Test player and 2yrs younger than DCE will be in 2026 the NRL will have no issue with Daly being on $400 or $500K in 2026 if he chooses to play on... and Manly still see value in signing him.
SeaEagleSI1
Reserve Grader
Lets just hope that they didn't ask Cuzzo to make this his last announcement!!
SeaEagleSI1
Reserve Grader
SeaEagleSI1
Reserve Grader
Our Silvertails photographer @SeaEagleSI1
Keep up the Great Work feathered friend
Thanks for your effort !
i use it for fishing gear back. It was on special, I saved $80...... no need to tell her I spent $300 on it
Burbo starting to fill out a bit? A big preseason for him and he might have a very good year.
Fingers crossed but I also think he needs to as well as he can’t just keep getting picked because he’s Burbo
I thought while he played last season ( can be quite injury prone) he did quite well especially at the beginning of the season and earned his jersey. Just needs to be more resilient.
SeaEagleSI1
Reserve Grader
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