Beginning of the end: Cherry-Evans confirms Manly departure as NRL greats weigh in on shock bombshell

Sam Kosack • March 24th, 2025 11:46 pm

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has confirmed he won’t be at the Sea Eagles in 2026.

Speaking on 100% Footy, Cherry-Evans confirmed definitively he would be leaving the club he’s spent his entire career at, and indicated his preference is to play on, however he refused to rule out retiring at season's end.

“No more footy at Manly beyond this year,” Cherry-Evans revealed.

“(The decision) definitely plays on a lot of emotions, certainly hasn’t been a decision that’s been made overnight, but I feel a lot better letting everyone know about it.”

“There is still that burning desire to play on.”

NRL legend Scott Sattler said on SEN Sportsday that it will be incredibly hard for Cherry-Evans to move on from the club after 15 seasons there.

“DCE (Cherry-Evans) holds all the ace cards here but there’s that emotional attachment with a club he’s been with for 15 years,” Sattler remarked.

“This is why the NRL must have a special dispensation for one club players.

“He deserves to stay at Manly!”

After news of Cherry-Evans’s looming departure broke, Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov and owner Scott Penn called NRL 360 to reveal the club had offered Cherry-Evans a two-year deal in a desperate attempt to keep their star playmaker.

However, Cherry-Evans revealed that the offer revealed to NRL 360 was the first offer he had received from the club.

“Manly said they weren’t going to offer anything unless another club offered anything.

“Those offers didn’t come through from other clubs so Manly didn’t need to offer anything which was fine.

The champion seven revealed that he had no intention of holding new talks with any clubs until closer to the end of the 2025 season, dedicating his focus on the Sea Eagles.

Since debuting, the Manly halfback has played 333 first grade games over 15 seasons for the Sea Eagles; a club record, and is also their most capped captain.

Cherry-Evans debuted in 2011 and, 15 State of Origin appearances for Queensland and 21 appearances for Australia later, the 2013 Clive Churchill Medallist has become a stalwart and much beloved figure on the Northern Beaches.

Given Cherry-Evans’s status as a premier halfback within the NRL, and the fact the 36-year-old is still playing in career-best form, multiple NRL clubs are expected to vye for his signature, including the Dolphins, Dragons, Titans, and Roosters.

When discussing potential landing spots for Cherry-Evans, NRL legend Mat Rogers believes any club Cherry-Evans signs with will become an instant premiership threat.

“I see this like Cronk going to the Roosters,” Rogers said on SEN Sportsday.

“He could win a comp with the Roosters, Broncos, Titans or Bulldogs.

“If he goes to the Titans, I think they can win the comp."

Cherry-Evans famously backflipped on the Titans in 2015, choosing to renege on a deal with the Gold Coast club and ink an 8-year deal with the Sea Eagles.

Now, for the first time since that backflip a decade ago, the Sea Eagles will have to prepare for a Cherry-Evans-less season.

Not many halves are available to sign right now, with Toby Sexton, Jamal Fogarty, and Tyran Wishart the notable examples still off contract, while internally Manly have Jake Arthur ready to fill the gap.

The club also have high hopes on rookies Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large who have been earmarked as the club’s long-term halves, however both are still developing in Jersey Flegg Cup and SG Ball respectively.

Attention turns now to the reception Cherry-Evans will face at 4 Pines Park when the club face the Parramatta Eels on Sunday, as he runs out to the Manly crowd for the first time in his final ride.

Goodman joins Lions coaching staff for Australia tour

Reuters