For a guy who famously hates the media spotlight, Daly Cherry-Evans is again making for a fine protagonist in the latest rugby league blockbuster.
While rugby league media curls itself into a pretzel over the next few weeks gossipping over what went on behind the scenes (does anyone really care?) I’m far more interested in the on-field ramifications of DCE’s contract bombshell.
The quality of player that Cherry-Evans is makes him an appealing signing at pretty much every NRL club right now. Realistically though, there will be at least half a dozen coaches genuinely looking at the 37-year old halfback for NRL season 2026 and beyond.
Let’s look at how Cherry-Evans might fit at a few of the ‘more likely’ club destinations.
Sydney Roosters
The first club on every footy fans lips when a big name enters the market, and for good reason.
Easts have a track record of buying elite talent and figuring things out from there; Cooper Cronk is the most recent winning example. They took an unpopular punt on an experienced Chad Townsend last year and could do a similar thing (albeit with far more upside) with Cherry-Evans for season 2026.
So how would it work on the field?
Sam Walker is one of the most productive attacking halves in the competition but could play a similar role with the #6 on his back while Cherry-Evans steers the ship and provides another genuine kicking option in general play. Having DCE to manage fifth tackle options and hit spots on the field would free up Walker to play wider of the ruck and pick his moments on the ball.
The sticking point is that Easts don’t really need a halfback for next season onwards. And with Kalyn Ponga another big name looming on the player market horizon, I’m pretty cool on DCE to the Chooks.
The Dolphins
The Brisbane Broncos have found a winning formula with two genuine halfbacks on either side of the ruck and Redcliffe could do something similar with DCE and Isaiya Katoa.
The Dolphins poor start has overshadowed the class Katoa is playing with right now. The subtleties and nuances of his ballplaying – how he holds the ball, the changes in tempo as he drifts across field, how he engages defenders before passing – are qualities we typically look for in veteran NRL halfbacks.
Partnering one of the best young playmakers in the game with one of the most experienced is a no brainer. Having two genuine halfbacks to straighten the attack and put Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow into positive areas on the edges is also a winner.
The sore point for Redcliffe is how far they appear to be from winning a premiership at time of writing. If DCE is indeed chasing silverware in his twilight years, there are more appealing options than The Dolphins right now.
Gold Coast Titans
How would DCE be received on the Gold Coast after his infamous contract backflip of 2015?
There are enough ties to the Titans for them to be my gut-feel pick for Cherry-Evans’ new club next year.
It’s an opportunity to reunite with Des Hasler and join a roster stacked with potential but perhaps missing a veteran shot caller in the spine. With a currently injured Kieran Foran off contract at the end of the year, it’s not hard to picture Cherry-Evans slotting in at halfback for the Titans in NRL season 2025.
Jayden Campbell has made an encouraging start to the year as an organising No.7 but few players in the competition would benefit more from partnering DCE in the halves. With Keano Kini and JC free to play the field and DCE calling the shots from first receiver, the Titans could virtually play with two fullbacks (three if AJ Brimson finds a role somewhere) in attack.
Having the class of DCE to finish sets is another huge sell that offsets the Titans high-risk and unorthodox attack.
Kicking to corners, making smart decisions under pressure and creating looks behind a beaten ruck are all attributes only a veteran half like DCE can bring to a footy team. While the best version of this Titans attack can trouble any team in the NRL, introducing Cherry-Evans to the mix would help the Gold Coast win games against the trend.
Dragons, Rabbitohs, Eels, Bulldogs
Shane Flanagan and the St George-Illawarra Dragons have been connected with just about every off-contract player in the last 12 months and DCE is no exception. That being said, with Daniel Atkinson arriving next year and the promising Lyhkan King-Togia lurking in reserve grade, Cherry-Evans to St George doesn’t make the most sense.
We can expect Phil Gould to make enquiries on behalf of the Bulldogs who are an appealing fit on paper for DCE. The one criticism of Canterbury right now is their middling attack; something that would immediately improve with Cherry-Evans on the ball and Matt Burton jockeying in the second- or third-layer of a shift.
Canterbury’s recent climb up the NRL ladder admittedly does make them a more appealing option than the Eels for example, while the Rabbitohs would more than likely be priced out of signing the veteran halfback.
It’s the kind of speculation I usually leave for the pub but here we are. The Gold Coast Titans are my pick at time of writing, although I won’t rule out an eleventh-hour resigning with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles either.
Where do you think Daly Cherry-Evans ends up in NRL season 2025? Let us know in the comments.
Written by Oscar Pannifex | RLWAPPAREL.COM