OH this will get this place rocking......
NRL 2021: Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans set to sign extension with club
First it was Brisbane. Then South Sydney. Here’s the truth about Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans playing future.
Forget the rumours he is leaving – here’s the truth.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is in discussions about extending his deal at Brookvale until the end of either 2024 or 2025.
The surprise development will finally cease speculation Cherry-Evans will be asked to leave because of salary cap issues, has been approached by
Brisbane or wants to join South Sydney.
Cherry-Evans started as a
Sea Eagle and will retire a Sea Eagle.
He famously signed
a $10 million, eight-year contract in 2015, after backflipping on a deal to join Gold Coast.
Even with two-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract, Manly wants to lock in Cherry-Evans for a contract extension.
The new deal, which could be nailed down within weeks, will span either one or two years.
“Our strong desire is for Daly to play his entire NRL career at the Sea Eagles and become a proud one-club player,” Manly chief executive Stephen Humphreys said.
“He is under contract for a further two seasons after the current one and we have never entertained the thought of him not being in our colours.
“Daly is the ultimate professional who is confident of playing beyond 2023. If that’s the case then we definitely want that to be with Manly.”
Manly want Daly Cherry-Evans to stay at Brookvale. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty
Cherry-Evans turned 32 in February and would be 34 when his current contract expires.
A one-year extension would have Cherry-Evans retiring at 35, a two-year deal at 36.
Former Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk played until he was 36, Queensland teammate Cam Smith continued until he was 37. Both won grand finals in their last NRL games.
Speculation has been swirling about Cherry-Evans wanting to move to Souths, given halfback Adam Reynolds is set to leave at Redfern.
Reynolds was due to meet with Broncos coach Kevin Walters and new CEO Dave Donaghy in Sydney over the weekend.
Des Hasler has fixed the Sea Eagles’ salary cap problems. Picture: Matt King/Getty
Then there was chatter about Cherry-Evans returning to Queensland to help end Brisbane’s ongoing problems in the halves.
That followed a suggestion Manly coach Des Hasler was battling salary cap problems and would be forced to shop around Cherry-Evans. Hasler has successfully reworked Manly’s once messy salary cap after playing with a reduced cap in 2018 and ‘19 for breaches.
All rumours proved incorrect.
“I have no doubt age will slow me down at some point, it does that for everyone, but I just think it’s definitely not right now,” Cherry-Evans told The Sunday Telegraph.
Cherry-Evans is on track to become a one-club player. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty
“I have three years left and a lot would have to change for me to ever leave Manly.”
Cherry-Evans said he has been falsely linked with rival clubs just about every season.
“When these rumours (of being moved on) come up, you find out pretty quickly how much support you have at the club,” he said. “I’m sure the right people at Manly will get in contact with me and reassure me that’s not the case.
“It seems to be the yearly rumour. Usually, it comes up in October, but here we are in May and it’s started already.
“I understand the coverage of rugby league is there to create content and get the fans talking about rugby league, but I take all the speculation with a grain of salt.
“If Manly ever tapped me on the shoulder and said: ‘Daly, you are no good to us’ then I would have to go elsewhere.”
DCE speaks out on Broncos move
- Peter Badel
Daly Cherry-Evans has broken his silence on speculation he is set to be offloaded to the Broncos with the Manly skipper revealing his ambition to finish his NRL career at the Sea Eagles.
In a wide-ranging interview with
The Sunday Mail,
Cherry-Evans addressed the Broncos rumours, insisted he could sign one more deal with Manly and declared
Roosters whiz-kid Sam Walker as his possible successor in the Queensland Origin jumper.
The Queensland Origin skipper has been buffeted by speculation he could be jettisoned by Manly and released to the Broncos at season‘s end due to salary-cap pressures at Brookvale.
“A lot would have to change for me to ever leave Manly,” he said.
Bad news Brisbane fans – Daly Cherry-Evans has no plans to leave the Manly Sea Eagles. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
THE BRONCOS
The Maroons playmaker has consistently been linked with a return home to play for the Broncos, dating back to 2014 when Anthony Griffin was coaching at Brisbane.
Cherry-Evans will face Brisbane on Friday week when Manly travel to Queensland for the NRL Magic Round, but the Sea Eagles maestro insists that will be the closest he comes to a Broncos jumper at Suncorp Stadium.
“It seems to be the yearly rumour,” Cherry-Evans said of his Broncos links.
“Usually, it comes up in October, but here we are in May and it‘s started already.
“I understand the coverage of rugby league is there to create content and get the fans talking about rugby league, but I take all the speculation with a grain of salt.
“If Manly ever tapped me on the shoulder and Daly, you are no good to us, then I would have to go elsewhere, but to be honest, I‘m not the answer for the Broncos.”
MANLY MINEFIELD
The Sea Eagles are said to be battling salary-cap pressures, putting Cherry-Evans‘ tenure at the club under the microscope.
Cherry-Evans is the highest-paid player in the NRL on a $1.25 million-a-season deal. It is the type of contract that can cripple a club under the salary cap and there is speculation Manly management may look to offload their No. 1-ranked player on a subsidised deal.
Souths have also been mentioned as a possible destination, but Cherry-Evans is determined to honour his Sea Eagles contract, which expires at the end of 2023, and hopes Manly bosses feel the same way.
Daly Cherry-Evans feels he can play beyond his current contract. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
“Look, I am happy at Manly,” he said.
“I‘ve always said I love playing at Manly, playing for Manly and living in the community.
“When these rumours (of being moved on) come up, you find out pretty quickly how much support you have at the club.
“I‘m sure the right people at Manly will get in contact with me and reassure me that’s not the case.
“I haven‘t spoken to anyone at the club. I’m paid to play footy and produce results and the first four weeks that didn’t happen. But I feel I’ve turned my individual form around so I’m more worried about getting Manly on track than calling club officials.
“I‘m not naive to think it (Cherry-Evans being offloaded) couldn’t happen one day because rugby league is hell of a game and contract situations change very quickly. I know that happens.
“But if I‘m lucky enough to choose the way I want my career to finish, I want it to finish at Manly.”
PLAYING ON
WHEN Cherry-Evans signed his eight-year, $10 million contract in 2015, it was touted as the deal that would carry him into NRL retirement. But the 244-game premiership halfback says he could sign another deal to play on in 2024, by which time he would celebrate his 35th birthday.
Former Maroons teammates Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith played until the age of 36 and 37 respectively.
“I have no doubt age will slow me down at some point, it does that for everyone, but I just think it‘s definitely not right now,” said DCE, who turned 32 in February.
“I have three years left.
“I know I have to uphold my end of the bargain and play good football, but I am pretty confident I can play well enough to see out my contract and maybe a few more years.
“I‘d like to think I can play on. I’m optimistic. I know things can change quickly. I would like to think I can sign one more deal.
“Cam Smith played until 37, he is a bit of a unicorn, but it‘s not too uncommon for players to play until their mid-30s now. I don’t think that’s out of reason for me.”
Sam Walker looks like a ready-made replacement for DCE at the Maroons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
SAM WALKER
The Roosters whiz-kid has hit the NRL like a tsunami. There is even better news for Maroons fans – the 18-year-old from Ipswich is eligible for Queensland and Cherry-Evans believes Walker can succeed him in the No. 7 jumper.
“It‘s exciting to see a Queensland kid of his talent coming through,” he said.
“I had to wait such a long time to become a genuine Origin half. I always thought I was up to it earlier than it came but it‘s important for Queensland to have depth in key positions. Every year people question Queensland’s depth but every series we manage to put together the best 17 for each game and they do the Maroon jumper proud.
“Sam is such a freakish talent for his age and the NRL doesn‘t look too big for him at all.
“If you play well at NRL level consistently, you will play Origin at some stage and I‘d love to meet Sam one day. Who knows? He could end up taking my spot.”
Daly Cherry-Evans won over the Queensland fans after skippering the Maroons to their series boilover last season.
ORIGIN HEROICS
Cherry-Evans was once reviled by Queensland fans for reneging on his Titans contract in 2015. But he feels he won over some hearts by skippering the Maroons to last year‘s series boilover of the Blues.
“Last year was really special,” he said.
“It was made a lot more special with the journey I had taken falling out of the Queensland side and I fell out of favour with the fans and the people of Queensland.
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“So to be able to feel that I won back some support, I felt like I did it at that moment when I held the shield up.
“It was a proud moment, not just for me but the whole Queensland team. I want to create that special feeling again.”