Matty Johns’ explosive Daly Cherry-Evans conspiracy theory

Matty Johns has gone public with his suspicions there is huge news about to drop about Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

Matty Johns has dropped a conspiracy theory Daly Cherry-Evans could make a sensational move to join the Roosters in the next six weeks.

The Newcastle icon on Tuesday said he would not be surprised if the Sea Eagles let their captain leave before the June 30 deadline for player movement.

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Johns’ theory comes after Roosters coach Trent Robinson earlier said there had been no progress between the club and Cherry-Evans in discussions regarding the Queensland State of Origin captain’s future.

Cherry-Evans has been strongly linked with the Roosters since he dropped the news he will leave Manly at the end of the season, but nothing has been made official in the weeks since, with the skipper’s form dropping off.

Cherry-Evans would form a potent halves pairing alongside Sam Walker, with skipper James Tedesco roving at fullback and new recruit Reece Robson to play hooker when he joins from the Cowboys next season.

NRL 2025 RD05 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Melbourne Storm - Daly Cherry-Evans, Dejection. NRL Photos

Johns said the recent mass exodus of players leaving the Roosters is a sign the Bondi club could be making a play to get DCE on their roster before June 30.

Brandon Smith on Wednesday became the latest star to leave the club, walking to the Rabbitohs after being shown the door at the Roosters.

Dominic Young has also been told he is free to go. According to reports, a deal for the winger to return to Newcastle has fallen through, but discussions remain ongoing.

Halfback Chad Townsend has also been linked with a move to the Super League with reports from the UK claiming the Roosters have been shopping Townsend to clubs.

All the movement suggests something may be cooking behind the scenes.

“I tell you what was interesting, I heard you boys talking before about DCE and the Roosters. I’ve been waiting for this to brew,” Johns said to hosts Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher on SEN’s Run Home with Joel and Fletch.

“There’s a bit of talk about this. I was thinking about this the other day when players were being released for next year and they were saying it’s DCE for next year.

Matty Johns and Daly Cherry-Evans.

“But they were so urgent to get rid of certain blokes, and now it’s come out about Chad Townsend. What’s at play here? Is there a chance of him (leaving) before June 30? It could happen.

“There might be something at play boys. How big would that be.”

Johns said he sympathised with the position the 36-year-old finds himself in.

“Imagine how hard it would be. You’re the captain of the club and you’ve fallen out with the club,” he said.

“That’s really hard. The one thing that brewed between DCE and Manly was the PR (public relations) battle. I wonder if Manly let him go early and then basically say, ‘Well it was his request. He wanted to go so we’ve let him go’. What that would be as far as PR is concerned.

“If fans go, ‘We’re with the club because we agree he wanted to go anyway’. I don’t know. “Nothing would surprise boys.”

Fletcher said: “He’s not happy there. As we know because he’s not saying there.

“He’s a fantastic player. The last month something has been on his mind because he’s not playing great. Especially last week he missed a couple tackles that led to tries so maybe he’s thinking it’s coming.”

The Roosters have recently also waived goodbye to Joey Manu, Luke Keary, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph Suaalii, Terrell May and Sitili Tupouniua.

Townsend, meanwhile, was last week dropped to reserve grade.

With Cherry-Evans tipped to sign for 2026 and possibly 2027, towering halfback Hugo Savala suddenly becomes the odd man out, which prompted his manager to ponder whether the club could loan him for a season to continue his development.

“I’ve heard speculation about that, but the manager hasn’t approached us directly about anything like that,” Robinson said, keen to keep the local junior at the club.

“We’ve really loved watching Hugo do his bit this year. He’s definitely a Rooster through and through, and his future is here.”

Originally published as Matty Johns’ explosive Daly Cherry-Evans conspiracy theory