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Sport Nation
How to tune into Sport Nation'Out of my comfort zone': Cherry-Evans breaks silence on Roosters move
Sam Kosack • November 20th, 2025 3:21 pm
Daly Cherry-Evans has spoken for the first time since joining the Sydney Roosters, revealing how he’s in “the right place for exactly what I want”.
Cherry-Evans spoke alongside Roosters captain James Tedesco, who announced he’d re-signed with the club, at the official 2026 jersey launch.
The former Manly captain’s move away from the Sea Eagles was highly publicised in 2025, with rugby league’s worst kept secret only confirmed in the last fortnight.
Wearing the Roosters’ kit publicly for the first time, Cherry-Evans said he was excited to break out of his comfort zone at his new club.
“They (new challenges) are all the things that have excited me and given me a new lease on life,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I’ve been so lucky throughout my career at the one club I had different coaches and at different stages a lot of different teammates. I think the ability to learn from different people over the years is something I’m going to have to lean on.
“Getting out of my comfort zone is something that I’m often challenging myself to do, I just haven’t done it often in rugby league being at the same joint.
“Deep down, I'm really excited about challenging myself in a different way at a different environment, but I do feel really comfortable in the environment.
“I feel it's going to provide everything I need to get the most out of myself as a footy player and a person, so I feel I'm in the right place for exactly what I want.”
Cherry-Evans is expected to line up in the halves alongside Sam Walker and provide leadership and mentoring to the club’s young halves, including Walker, Hugo Savala, and Toby Rodwell.
The halfback has played 352 games at the Sea Eagles, all at halfback, since debuting in 2011.
The former Queensland Origin captain expressed how he’s excited to carry the expectations of the historic club.
“There’s a lot of excitement, obviously making the big leap it’s going to be a new feeling but deep down but it’s something I’ve maybe been thinking about for a little while so to be here it’s very surreal,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Pulling on the jersey is obviously as real as it gets, you straight away feel the expectations and standards this club holds and I’m really excited to be a part of that and try and join in the success.
“Walking in… it feels like a footy club and takes me back to playing rugby league as a kid back in Mackay and how special it felt playing at clubs up there.
“It really has a homely feel… this club has an amazing history so there’s an expectation to go out there and do your job and I’ll take a lot of pride in doing that this year.”
Cherry-Evans will make his Roosters debut in Round 1 against the Warriors in New Zealand before facing his old side for the first time in Round 4.
