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SO SAD: Fans in Shock as Daly Cherry-Evans Makes Huge Announcement After Surprising Andrew Johns Call
Manly veteran Daly Cherry-Evans has admitted he would be comfortable if his career ended with his current contract, as the Sea Eagles captain prepares to enter his eighth finals series on Sunday against Canterbury. The Manly halfback is contracted until the end of 2025, but there is currently no deal on the table beyond next year.
Cherry-Evans is currently in pursuit of a second NRL premiership at the Sea Eagles after his first came as a rookie in 2011. But win or lose, big decisions are ahead for the Queensland State of Origin captain.
The 35-year-old is off contract at the end of 2025 and can be approached by rival clubs from November 1 this year. He signed a ‘lifetime’ eight-year deal at Manly in 2015 and then extended it further in 2022 to become one of the highest-paid halfbacks in the game.
However, his future beyond next year isn’t clear despite stating that he would like to play on for at least a few more seasons. The playmaker will be 37 by the time the 2026 season rolls around, an age that many of the NRL greats before him had already called time on their careers.
Cooper Cronk decided to hang up the boots at 35, while Andrew Johns announced his NRL retirement at 32. Johnathan Thurston pulled the pin at 35 and Darren Lockyer at 34, showing the incredible longevity of Manly’s most-capped player. And Cherry-Evans said he will sort out his NRL future in the off-season but ideally wants to play on for a few more years.
“It’s something I haven’t even stopped for a second to think about,” Cherry-Evans told AAP. “As the captain and being a bit older, my priorities are leading with the actions and making sure our focus is where it needs to be. And that’s finals footy.
“We’re in an off-season in four weeks and it will all get sorted then. But at the moment I don’t think there would be any rush to get anything done. If it all had to end next year for me I would be extremely grateful for the journey. I don’t think it will all end next year, but it’s just not something I have been worried about.”
Andrew Johns says Cherry-Evans can break NRL games record
If Cherry-Evans is to play on as suggested, Andrew Johns believes he could realistically break Cameron Smith’s all-time NRL games record. Johns says the Manly halfback could play until age 40, which could see him play more NRL games than anyone in history.
“He’s still got his speed. He’s getting better,” Johns said on Channel 9 earlier this season. “He has to play for another two or three years. He may play until he’s 40.”
Smith currently holds the record with a whopping 430 NRL games. Cherry-Evans currently sits at 327 matches, meaning he would need to play at least another four seasons injury-free to surpass Smith’s mark. But even if he does play on beyond next year, Manly faces a tricky situation with his contract.
The Sea Eagles this year opted against re-signing young halfback Jamie Humphreys, but have locked in teen prodigy Joey Walsh, who is viewed as Cherry-Evans’ successor. Cherry-Evans’ status in the game also means his approximate $1 million salary is far greater than others his age and any decisions would likely need to be made well in advance for salary cap management. And the Sea Eagles great knows that the club may ultimately decide against offering him an extension.
Manly have an obligation to keep the club first and if it’s in their best interests to keep me then they will keep me,” Cherry-Evans said. “We’ll cross that bridge if it even gets to it … contracts work themselves out eventually, so I am not too worried about it.”
And while it would seem inconceivable Cherry-Evans will finish his career away from Manly, the reality is he could attract big-money offers elsewhere if still unsigned on November 1. The Dolphins in particular could loom as a potential destination for the halfback if he was to move clubs. Cherry-Evans grew up in Redcliffe and could seek a return home, although it is likely he would be reluctant to move away from the northern beaches with his family set up in the area.
Daly Cherry-Evans says he has not yet considered his future beyond next year, with the Manly favourite on the verge of becoming a free agent for the first time in almost a decade.
Cherry-Evans will enter his eighth final series on Sunday against Canterbury, in pursuit of a second title at the Sea Eagles after his first as a rookie in 2011.
But big decisions lie ahead.
The Queensland State of Origin captain is off contract at the end of 2025, and able to be approached by rival clubs from November 1, 2024.
Locked into a “lifetime” eight-year deal at Manly in 2015 and then extended out in 2022, Cherry-Evans remains one of the highest paid halfbacks in the game.
The playmaker is yet to decide if he wants to go on beyond next year and while he will be 37 in February 2026, Manly’s most-capped player in history is showing no signs of slowing up.
Andrew Johns is among those to claim Cherry-Evans could play until age 40 and break Cameron Smith’s all-time NRL game’s record.
And while it would seem inconceivable Cherry-Evans will finish his career elsewhere, the reality is he could attract big-money offers elsewhere if still unsigned on November 1.
The Dolphins in particular could loom as one option, given the club’s halves stocks.
Cherry-Evans grew up in Redcliffe, but is now well established on the northern beaches with his children in school.
“It’s something I haven’t even stopped for a second to think about,” Cherry-Evans told AAP when asked about his contract situation.
“As the captain and being a bit older, my priorities are leading with the actions and making sure our focus is where it needs to be. And that’s finals footy.
“We’re in an off-season in four weeks and it will all get sorted then. But at the moment I don’t think there would be any rush to get anything done.
“If it all had to end next year for me I would be extremely grateful for the journey.
“I don’t think it will all end next year, but it’s just not something I have been worried about.”
The situation also looms as a potentially tricky one for Manly, who must juggle planning for the future alongside Cherry-Evans’ status as one of the game’s premier No.7s.
Cherry-Evans’ status means his approximate $1 million salary is far greater than most others his age and any decisions would likely need to be made well in advance for cap management.
The Sea Eagles this year opted against re-signing young halfback Jamie Humphreys, but have locked in teenage prodigy Joey Walsh.
“Manly have an obligation to keep the club first and if it’s in their best interests to keep me then they will keep me,” Cherry-Evans said.
“We’ll cross that bridge if it even gets to it … contracts work themselves out eventually, so I am not too worried about it.”
