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Sport Nation
Find your frequency hereWhy Fletch believes DCE will thrive at the Sydney Roosters
Sam Kosack • August 19th, 2025 8:00 am
NRL great Bryan Fletcher believes Daly Cherry-Evans will thrive at the Sydney Roosters amidst mounting pressure on the Sea Eagles halfback.
As Manly’s finals chances likely ended in a 26-12 loss to the Wests Tigers, criticisms turned towards the Sea Eagles captain, who has been under the spotlight all season following his announcement he would leave the club in Round 4.
Cherry-Evans approaches his 350th game this round, becoming only the fifth player in history to achieve the feat, and while nothing has been confirmed around his future, all roads lead to him joining the Sydney Roosters for a career swansong.
However, SEN’s Andrew Voss predicted Cherry-Evans may retire at the end of the season, after he seemed particularly upset and deflated following the loss to the Tigers.
But Roosters legend Bryan Fletcher believes that, while the champion halfback is out of form right now, he can rediscover his best behind the Sydney forward pack.
“I feel that he was so disappointed that the legacy, his last year, they're not going to make the 8.
“I think he realises, but he'll be there at the chooks next year so, new start, fresh start.
“Hugo Savala (is a) terrific kid, terrific player, let’s swap them. How would Hugo go behind that pack?
“People out there are saying ‘they don't need him’. If you want to win, he's gonna make your team better. Daly Cherry-Evans, even at 37 years of age, is going to make your team better.
“Imagine him playing behind that pack like Naufahu Whyte, Lindsay Collins.
“This has been the knock on (Manly)... there's no Haumole (Olakau'atu), there's no (Taniela) Paseka, no (Josh) Aloiai.
“They just had no punch through the middle. I just think he makes that Roosters side next year a better team.
“Can you imagine him going across field and he hears (Tedesco)? I know he's had Turbo there for a long time, but the way Tedesco is playing at the moment, I just feel that he'll only have to concentrate on his job.”
The Sydney Roosters are firming as favourites for the final spot in the top eight, currently sitting in eighth, two points ahead of The Dolphins and four ahead of the Sea Eagles.
