Daly Cherry-Evans has told the Manly Sea Eagles this will be his last season at the club. It’s a bit of a sad situation, but at least it is a decision he has taken control of rather than the club pushing him out the door.
I always love seeing players who have their entire career play out at one club, but hey, I don’t always get what I want!
So lets have a look at some of the best landing spots for DCE should he continue his career in the NRL…
North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys are DESPERATE for some leadership, and a playmaker that can actually guide the team around the park. Sure it wouldn’t help their defensive issues, but I think with their personnel and a new coach, adding DCE to the Cowboys would make them a real Premiership contender.
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are improving but it feels like they could use a bit of a boost to really be considered a Premiership contender. I like Sexton as a halfback, and I hope the Bulldogs give him the time to continue to develop, but plugging DCE into this Bulldogs team would make them a whole different prospect in terms of being true contender.
Penrith Panthers
Look, as a Panthers supporter myself, I understand how sickening this would be. If DCE decided to take a pay cut to try and win another Premiership, playing alongside Nathan Cleary would be the best place for him. I doubt it would happen, but eventually a veteran player is going to make this type of move to the Panthers. You could argue Blaize Talagi made a similar decisions just at the other end of his career!
St George/Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons are the refuse bucket of the NRL. They won’t be contenders any time soon, and the coach is critical of everyone at the club except his Ron Massey Cup quality son, who is the clubs current halfback. If the Dragons wanted to pay DCE a heap of money, and thats all DCE cared about, maybe they could get him, but I don’t see that happening.
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are in full rebuild mode and have the salary cap space to spend on any player that comes onto the market. Does DCE fit that timeline? I’m not so sure. He would no doubt improve the side but I feel like it wouldn’t really help them improve over the longer term. More of a stop gap measure. I’m not sure that is what the Roosters need right now.
Newcastle Knights
Hear me out! You spend $1.2 million on Kalyn Ponga. $1.4 million on Dylan Brown. You offer $1 million to Daly Cherry-Evans, and you surround them with local A Grade players from the Newcastle competition!
Not happening…
Parramatta Eels
His playing style would probably fit well with Mitchell Moses, but do the Ee’l really want to spend around $2 million a year of their salary cap space on two halves over the age of 30 as they try to rebuild the club? I’m not sure this would be the best idea for either party.
Cronulla Sharks
You know what I’m going to say. If the Sharks could move Nicho Hynes elsewhere, DCE would be a perfect addition to the club. He would give them veteran leadership, Premiership winning experience, and I think it would make the Sharks close to being a favourite to win the title.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Because the Bunnies don’t have enough halfbacks on their books right now. I just don’t see this fitting into a healthy timeline for the Rabbitohs, but we know Wayne Bennett doesn’t care about the long term of the clubs health on the field as he moves from club to club. I don’t think this moves the needle enough in terms of making the Rabbitohs a Premiership contender to be honest.
Gold Coast Titans
Retirement. The Titans are not a serious Rugby League club, we have plenty of proof in that regard. It would be ironic if DCE ended up there after what happened 10 years ago, but I don’t really see that happening.
Redcliffe Dolphins
Now here is a move that might make for sense. Playing alongside Katoa, who is a great young halfback but who desperately needs some help, he could help move the Dolphins out of that bottom half of the NRL ladder. This might be the sneaky favourite to get him.
