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'Never say never': Sea Eagles vow to fight to keep DCE
Scott Bailey, AAP • March 25th, 2025 4:00 pm
Daly Cherry-Evans says his mind is made up, yet Manly boss Tony Mestrov has other ideas | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov insists it is not too late to convince Daly Cherry-Evans to stay at Brookvale, despite the halfback pledging to reject a contract extension.
Just 12 hours after Cherry-Evans confirmed 2025 would be his last season at Brookvale, Mestrov on Tuesday made a last-ditch bid to keep the 36-year-old.
The Sea Eagles have offered a two-year deal worth $1.4 million to Cherry-Evans, who claimed on Monday night he still had a burning desire to play on.
In a stunning admission on Monday, Cherry-Evans said that despite wanting to keep playing, he had decided in December that it would not be at Manly beyond 2025.
He also claimed he would not accept the proposed offer from the club, with no deal having previously been on the table.
Mestrov on Tuesday defended Manly's decision not to offer Cherry-Evans a deal earlier, and rejected claims the Sea Eagles had attempted to low-ball the club great.
Daly Cherry-Evans has been at Manly since a dream debut season in 2011, when he won a premiership | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
But he conceded that Cherry-Evans was "irreplaceable" as a halfback, and hoped the veteran would change his mind to stay at the Sea Eagles.
"I don't think we're too late. It's never say never," Mestrov said.
"I don't think Daly's made a decision himself. Let's hope he reconsiders. I don't think it's too late in any sense of the imagination.
"And we've put our best foot forward. Obviously, we've put that in writing this morning to his management. And we'll wait for an answer back.
"I've said that to Daly personally. It's your decision. We'll respect the time you need to make for that decision.
"And I think we're all good with it. I said to Daly, 'good luck on Sunday. We're here supporting you. If you need me, ring me'."
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov says it is up to Daly Cherry-Evans whether he wants to stay at the NRL club | Video: Dean Lewins
Mestrov said he had been told by Cherry-Evans in December he would not play on at the Sea Eagles, after also receiving no formal offers from other clubs.
But there is now expected to be no shortage of interest, with the Dolphins already known to be keen to pursue the Queensland State of Origin captain.
Regardless, Mestrov stood by his decision not to have offered Cherry-Evans a formal deal before this week.
"We wanted to respect Daly's privacy. And we've always done that," Mestrov said.
"Daly did speak to us in December. He was going to either retire or go overseas. He reiterated that it would be his last year at Manly and we respected that.
Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
"We did not want to make him an offer or infiltrate him in any way.
"It's a shock to everyone else, but not necessarily us. We wanted to give him his space. And I think we've done that."
Cherry-Evans' exit would come as a seismic blow to Manly.
He is the club's most-capped player with 333 games, the longest-standing halfback of any team currently in the NRL and remains among the NRL's elite players.
Manly have Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large as talented young halves, while Tom Trbojevic could potentially switch to No. 6 to partner Luke Brooks.
But Mestrov insisted not all hope was lost on Cherry-Evans.
"If he wants to play in the NRL, we want him to play at Manly," Mestrov said.
"If he chooses to go to another club, then he chooses to go to another club.
"We've put our best foot forward in what is a very, very strong offer. And now it's in Daly's court."
