Why the Dolphins must sign Daly Cherry-Evans one three-year, $3.5 million deal

The Bennett Curse is in full swing at the Dolphins, and after four straight defeats to start 2025, it’s time for the Dolphins to make Daly Cherry-Evans an offer he can’t refuse, writes TRAVIS MEYN.

Kristian Woolf needs to make Daly Cherry-Evans a $3.5 million offer he can’t refuse after the Dolphins’ winless run without Wayne Bennett continued in a bruising Battle of Brisbane.

The Dolphins slumped to a fourth straight loss to start the 2025 NRL premiership on Friday night, falling 20-12 to the Broncos at a sodden Suncorp Stadium.

The Bennett ‘curse’ is in full swing at Redcliffe, with the Dolphins still hunting for their first victory since the super coach left the club for South Sydney.

Apart from being mauled in the midfield by Broncos monster Payne Haas, the Dolphins’ attack lacked polish as they once again failed to reach 20 points this season.

But there is one man that can help turn around the fledgling NRL expansion franchise.

It’s time for the Dolphins to make Daly Cherry-Evans a $3.5 million offer he can’t refuse. Picture: Jonathan Ng

SIGN DCE

The Dolphins are officially in the market for disgruntled Manly captain Cherry-Evans following his decision to quit the Sea Eagles at the end of this season.

Redcliffe has the salary cap space to make ‘DCE’ an offer he is worthy of – in the vicinity of $1.2 million-a-season – and they need to pull the trigger ASAP.

There is no point sitting and waiting to be gazumped by another club.

While Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa is an outstanding prospect, he is in desperate need of a playmaking mentor.

A Redcliffe junior, Cherry-Evans would be the ultimate foil and what a fairytale it would be.

He might be 36 but Cherry-Evans has been incredibly durable and the Dolphins should consider offering him $3.5 million over three years to get him to Redcliffe.

Isaiya Katoa is an outstanding prospect, but is in desperate need of a mentor. Picture: NRL Imagery

HAMMER’S TIME

Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow somehow didn’t register a run until the 24th minute.

That’s not good enough from Redcliffe’s highest-paid player.

Tabuai-Fidow has looked void of confidence this year, perhaps due to the departure of Bennett given the connection he had with his old coach.

If Woolf can’t find a way to get ‘Hammer’ firing the Dolphins are going to have a hard time scoring.

Their halves aren’t creating enough structured opportunities and they’re getting little of Tabuai-Fidow’s instinctive brilliance and athleticism.

The Dolphins have to figure out how to get Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow firing. Picture: NRL Imagery

ROAD SHOW

The Dolphins will now embark on a horror month of fixtures.

They face the suddenly in-form Titans on the Gold Coast next Saturday before hosting 2024 grand finalists Penrith and Melbourne in consecutive weeks at Suncorp.

They are then on the road to Canberra before coming back to Brisbane for a fortunate Magic Round ‘away’ game against the Roosters.

Woolf needs to quickly find a way to jag a win to ease the pressure and ensure the Dolphins’ season doesn’t go completely off the rails.

Originally published as Why the Dolphins must sign Daly Cherry-Evans one three-year, $3.5 million deal