Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequencyBennett demands NRL trade window after DCE saga
SEN • March 26th, 2025 5:43 pm
Wayne Bennett has slammed the NRL over the Daly Cherry-Evans saga and called for the introduction of a trade window similar to the AFL’s to curb the mid-season chaos of player movement.
With the 2025 season not even four rounds old, there has been almost daily speculation and news about players signing new contracts for next year, with Cherry-Evans the latest name to create a media storm.
Earlier this week, the 36-year-old veteran said on live television that he would not be staying at Brookvale. At the same time, his Manly bosses were calling Fox Sports during their transmission of NRL 360 to deny reports their fullback was leaving and that they’d offered him a two-year deal.
The farcical scenes caused so much confusion that the club was forced to hold a press conference the next day which did little to clarify the matter.
Not denying he was captivated by the saga, Bennett torched the NRL for allowing the ongoing circus of NRL player contracts to continue.
“I’ve just enjoyed the entertainment that it’s just provided for everyone else in the game,” Bennett said.
"But regarding the NRL’s rules which allow for players and clubs to announce signings a season in advance, Bennett called for a trade window similar to AFL.
“It does nothing for the game, does nothing for the club and it’s wrong and I wish we’d fix it.
“Aussie rules – this doesn’t happen in their game, they’re our major competitor.
“We’ve hit the self-destruct button four weeks into a football season which has already provided some great football.
“The whole focus is on what a couple of players have done … it just shouldn’t happen. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”
Bennett's comments come on a day where Knights' hooker Jayden Brailey was confirmed to be moving to the Canberra Raiders in 2026, and Warriors' utility Dylan Walker was released effective immediately on compassionate grounds to join the Parramatta Eels.
SEN Breakfast host Andrew Voss was in disbelief with Walker's departure from the New Zealand club.
"He was picked for the team this week! Team List Tuesday was yesterday," Voss exclaimed.
"That's unbelievable. This couldn't have happened since 4pm yesterday."
"Rugby league never sleeps."
Walker won't play for the Eels against Cherry-Evans's Manly this week on Sunday.
