Following reports emerging that Daly Cherry-Evans will continue into his 17th season, the veteran halfback has cleared the air on where he stands on retirement.
The Manly premiership-winning half signed on with the Sydney Roosters for 2026 following a breakdown in contract communications between the Manly club and its greatest-serving player.
It resulted in the tri-colours tabling a deal to have him make the switch across the bridge this year, with an option for 2027
Turning 38 in February next year, Cherry-Evans admits he is taking a slow approach despite plenty of speculation to figure out what he plans to do.
“Mate, I’ve honestly been taking it week by week,” he told ABC Radio.
“There’s a lot of people in the media trying to predict my future and when I figure it out, I’ll let everyone know.
“And I’ll let my friends and family know first of all!”
Cherry-Evans’ arrival in Bondi brought plenty of scrutiny, and online conjecture began to emerge that he wouldn’t fit the Roosters’ attacking style.
Although the club is comfortably placed in second position on the ladder, with Cherry-Evans still playing at a quality rate after 15 years in the game.
The champion halfback has made a whopping 371 appearances in the NRL, and if he opts to go again next year, will be closing in on the prestigious 400-game mark set by Cameron Smith, the only player to achieve the quad century.
Cherry-Evans was among the many stars featuring in the 82-12 demolition of the North Queensland Cowboys, putting to bed any doubts on his ability to gel with the Roosters spine.
He is expected to come in handy with his big-game experience if the Roosters go deep into the finals race in 2026.
The Roosters will host the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium in a crucial match for Cameron Ciraldo’s men, who are clinging onto the Top 8 and need to win as many remaining games as possible to play in September.
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