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Daly Cherry-Evans has formally rejected Manly’s last-ditch offer to keep him at Brookvale, on the same day the Sydney Roosters said they would look at the half.
Cherry-Evans officially informed Manly on Thursday he will not take up their two-year deal worth $1.4 million, effectively closing the door on any future with the Sea Eagles.
The half’s response confirmed what he had announced on national television on Monday that this season would be his 15th and final one at Manly.
Cherry-Evans is leaning towards playing on, with the Sea Eagles’ greatest-ever halfback also their most capped player with 333 games.
“I wanted to confirm I was leaving the club now, rather than making a call later in the season, so that we can get on with our goal of winning a premiership,” Cherry-Evans said in a statement.
“I love this club and this group of players.
“I am fully committed to giving my absolute best over the coming months to make this season the best it can possibly be for our team, our club and our fans.”
Manly are already making moves to fill the huge boots of Daly Cherry-Evans when he finishes up at the end of the year by targeting Canberra veteran Jamal Fogarty as the player to replace their skipper in the No.7 jersey.
Cherry-Evans’ old Des coach Hasler dodged questions about whether he would make a play for the Sea Eagles stalwart at the Gold Coast, 10 years after the halfback’s stunning backflip on the club.
And Souths mentor Wayne Bennett has ruled out making a play for the 36-year-old star.
The Sea Eagles, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report, are keen on Fogarty to come to Brookvale in 2026.
The pursuit of Fogarty is tricky because the Raiders have until Round 6 to take up an option in his contract for next season at $650,000.
Canberra have young guns Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders at the ready to be their halves of the future but it would be valuable for them to keep Fogarty around for another year to help guide the rising duo into the NRL.
Fogarty recently asked for permission to negotiate with other clubs to sort out his future but the Raiders vetoed the request.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Hasler refused to enter into speculation around chasing Cherry-Evans on Wednesday, when asked if he was interested.
“At the moment I am not going to go down that rabbit warren,” Hasler said.
“I will say it once. We are really happy with the retention that we have and the direction that we are taking.
“Knowing Cherry, and his management team are also pretty smart, they will sit back now and just wait I’d imagine. I think there is a lot more to play out.”
Hasler has had his own feud with Manly after being axed as coach at the end of 2022, launching legal action before an out-of-court settlement last November.
“Rugby league is the game that keeps giving isn’t it? It has been an interesting week,” Hasler said.
“It is a bit like watching reality TV.
“I think both parties are trying to play the respectful game. I have no inkling, and I don’t want to have an inkling, as to what sort of machinations are in there.”
Hasler did indicate his surprise at the thought Cherry-Evans would play elsewhere, agreeing it would be strange to see him in other colours.
“If you are a tragic and a lot of people are, you would think he is the type of player who would be a one-club player,” Hasler said.
“There’s been a few before him. And he might even hold the record (for most games at Manly).
“I am sure all those things are worth considering.”
League or Union? Kangaroos or Wallabies? Liverpool or Twickenham?…
Rugby lovers are set to be handed an unprecedented ‘decisions, decisions’ moment when Australia face England in two mouth-watering Ashes duels in the different codes 275km apart at the very same time this November.
The confirmation of the Kangaroos itinerary to England in October and November in the first three-Test rugby league ‘Ashes’ series since 2003 has brought delight in both countries that one of the great rivalries in world sport is being rekindled after 22 years.
But there’ll be disappointment that the second of the three Tests will be played at Everton’s new soccer stadium at the same time the Wallabies are duelling England at Twickenham in a fixture given fresh impetus last year when Australia won one of the greatest matches between the old foes.
England – or Great Britain, most often in the past in League’s case – have been playing Australia in both codes for more than a century, with tours and matches often taking place around the same time of year.
Indeed, the first rugby league Test between the old rivals took place in Huddersfield in January 1909, with England winning 14-9, only a week before Australia’s 15-a-side pioneers – dubbed the Rabbits by their hosts until the visitors decided Wallabies was more fitting – won the first Union Test 9-3 in Blackheath, London.
But never in 116 years of Anglo-Australian rugby duels have the clashes been played at the same time, with the second League Test kicking off at Everton at 2.30pm on November 1 (1.30am, November 2, AEDT) while the Wallabies kick off at Twickenham at 3.10pm (2.10am, November 2, AEDT).
It’s an unfortunate clash for any late-night viewers in Australia.
The Kangaroos’ once-in-a-generation trip could take precedence for armchair watchers because of its rarity value, but the Wallabies’ last-gasp 42-37 triumph at Twickenham was unmissable theatre last November and should be again following on from the Lions’ tour of Australia.
England haven’t met Australia in any rugby league international since the World Cup final in 2017, won by Cameron Smith’s Kangaroos 6-0, and the hosts will be itching for a crack at breaking a 13-series drought stretching back to 1970 when they tackle the world champions at Wembley (25 October), Everton (1 November) and Leeds (8 November) on successive Saturdays.
Australia coach Mal Meninga, who went on a record four successful Kangaroos’ tours to Britain in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994, can’t wait, describing the Ashes series as “the ultimate” in the international game.
“We love the history, but we haven’t had a chance to play England since 2017 and from an Ashes point of view we haven’t played since 2003,” added Meninga, saying he planned to stick largely with the players who took 2024 Pacific Cup honours under Isaah Yeo.
“To be able to play at Wembley, at the new stadium in Everton – where no other team has been before – and then going back to the tradition of Headingley, that is exciting.
“We also want to make a statement leading into the World Cup in 2026, so it is an important part of the journey for us.”
Jason Taumalolo has fired back at criticism of his decision to play Queensland Cup for Mackay a fortnight ago, insisting he made the call for the benefit of himself and the team.
The 31-year-old prop had foot surgery in the off-season and started full contact training late. Taumalolo made his NRL return in last Friday night’s 26-16 loss to Brisbane where he was the side’s best performed forward with 150m from 14 runs in a 46-minute display.
The 2015 premiership winner had missed the previous week’s 36-12 loss to Cronulla where the Cowboys were out-muscled, electing instead to play for Mackay in the state league competition.
Respected rugby league analyst Matthew Johns wrote a column for News Corp questioning the decision in a wide ranging piece about the Cowboys’ poor start to the season.
“I’m old school, but in my opinion, legends like Jason Taumalolo shouldn’t play reserve grade,” Johns wrote.
“Players of the calibre and experience of Taumalolo don’t need to play lower grades to prove their fitness and capabilities.
Jason Taumalolo. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)
“He would have far better served in the top grade.
“Even if Taumalolo was capable of only playing 25 minutes against the Sharks, it’s his presence and leadership which would have made a difference. However, it was a selfless decision that the Cowboys say Taumalolo made himself last week.”
Taumalolo made it clear on Wednesday the call was his and not that of coach Todd Payten.
He had put his hand up to play for Mackay in round one of the Queensland Cup but cyclonic weather washed the round out.
The next week he told Payten he wanted to come back to the NRL via Mackay where he had a 56-minute stint.
“I made that decision for myself to benefit from,” Taumalolo said.
“The last thing I wanted to do was come into an NRL game a bit underdone, struggling and being a liability for those around me.
“I made the decision. I know there has been a lot of talk about the decision I made but it was entirely on myself.”
Taumalolo said he did not regret his call and added that he would be better for the run for Mackay and Cowboys when Canberra visit Townsville on Saturday night.
“Playing Queensland Cup before last week’s game definitely helped,” he said.
“I thought I’d get more kilometres in the legs and get myself going, Last week, although I was struggling at times, it wasn’t too bad. I’ll be going into this week a lot more confident.”
The winless Cowboys must get their season on track with a win over the Raiders. No side in the NRL era has lost four games in a row and won the premiership.
The Cowboys joined an elite club when they lost their opening three matches of the 2015 season before going on to win the title, but they had Johnathan Thurston in the side as well.
Only Newtown in 1933 have lost their opening four matches of a season and won the title in premiership history.
The Cowboys did improve against the Broncos. They started the match on top, but failed to score points before fading.
“There is a long season ahead but there are a lot of positives we can take out of last week,” Taumalolo said. “If we can start the way we did and span that over 80 minutes it will go a long way towards us improving.”
with AAP
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