NRL transfer news 2022: Daly Cherry Evans set to shun Dolphins interest to finish career at Manly
Wayne Bennett will have to look elsewhere for an experienced playmaker after a future 300-game player insisted he was unlikely to ever leave the club he’s played with for the last 10 years.
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Daly Cherry-Evans has declared he will finish his career at Manly as the Queensland Origin skipper prepares to shun a family homecoming to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins and ink a contract extension with the Sea Eagles.
News Corp can reveal Manly are poised to formalise a 12-month upgrade that will see Cherry-Evans extend his NRL career until 2024 and remain the Sea Eagles’ halfback kingpin beyond his 35th birthday.
Cherry-Evans played his junior football at Redcliffe, the club his father, Troy, represented in the Brisbane State League in 1987, and the Dolphins’ admission to the NRL raised the prospect of the Maroons maestro returning to Queensland.
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A huge carrot was the opportunity to reunite with Dolphins super coach Bennett, who orchestrated Queensland’s famous 2020 series boilover of the Blues with Cherry-Evans as his captain.
But Manly powerbrokers have moved to scupper any poaching threat from the Dolphins, with Cherry-Evans set to ink a new deal that will see the 261-game veteran become a triple centurion at Brookvale.
Cherry-Evans confirmed he is in the advanced stages of extension talks in a coup for Manly ahead of their blockbuster season opener against premiers Penrith next Thursday.
“I’m looking to finish my career at Manly,” the Maroons and Manly captain said.
“I can’t see myself going anywhere.
“Manly seem pretty receptive to keeping me there for as long as I can keep playing well.
“I have this year and next left contract wise, but I would be pretty surprised if I was a free agent at the end of the year.
“We are both in agreement that I am giving them something and they are getting something out of me, so that’s what it’s all about, return on investment.
“At this stage of my career, it’s not about the money. I am very happy at Manly.
“I will be playing for as long as I can, trust me.”
Just turned 33, Cherry-Evans is entering the new premiership feeling so fit he believes he could play until the end of 2025, but is content to sign a one-year extension.
Given his family ties and gravitas in the code, Cherry-Evans would have been the perfect fit to lead the Dolphins through their embryonic years, but the Test playmaker is plotting another premiership at Manly.
“I am genuinely so happy that the Dolphins are in the NRL,” he said.
“That is biased because my dad played for Redcliffe and they have all the makings of a strong NRL team.
“A lot would have to change for me to ever go to the Dolphins. If I ever got punted, I know who I would be calling.
“But seriously, Manly has been a huge part of my life. I have been there for 10 years so I have a lot of good relationships and living on the northern beaches brings a lot of happiness to my family.
“It makes it easier for me to go training and when I get to training, I feel we have a genuine chance to win the premiership and that excites me as well.
“Some people see contracts as a deadline when you get older, but I won’t be afraid to keep playing it year by year, as long as I’m enjoying it and playing at a level that justifies a spot, then I’m going to keep doing it.
“That’s always the dream - to keep playing. It is the best part of the job and I don’t want to give that away before I know I have maximised everything out of myself physically and mentally.
“I don’t know when that is going to stop or going to end, but I’m very content here at Manly.”
Warriors snare star Sea Eagle
-Brent Read
Manly centre Dylan Walker will join the Warriors next season. The Warriors on Wednesday announced the 27-year-old had signed a three-year deal starting from 2023.
“He has proven himself among the competition’s best and most consistent players over the last two seasons, a player very much on top of his game,” said Warriors general manager of football Craig Hodges.
“He’s a high-quality centre who can also play in the halves, at fullback and fill a role in the middle if required. Dylan’s going to bring so much to our side from next season.”
As well as being a 2014 premiership winner with South Sydney, Walker has appeared for the Māori All Stars in each of the last three seasons.
“Signing Dylan is a terrific boost for us as we build and improve our roster for next season and beyond,” Warriors chief executive Cameron George said.
“Along with our other major signings for 2023 and on, he will lend experience as well as
adding hugely to our depth.”
The versatile Walker has found a home on the interchange bench at Manly over the past year and is the Warriors’ third major signing for 2023 following Cronulla Sutherland half Luke Metcalf and Parramatta second rower Marata Niukore across the Tasman.
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