By Nick Wright
The Dolphins have the funds to make a lucrative play for Daly Cherry-Evans, coach Kristian Woolf has declared.
The Queensland captain confirmed 2025 would be his final season with the Sea Eagles, but he might play on in the NRL for the next two seasons.
Cherry-Evans was born in Redcliffe, although the allure of another premiership and a settled life in Sydney could ensure sides such as the Roosters have the salary cap space and temptation to trounce the idea of a romantic reunion north of the Tweed.
The Dolphins have confirmed they have the funds to make a play for Daly Cherry-Evans.Credit: Getty Images
As Broncos coach Michael Maguire ruled out making a bid and Titans mentor Des Hasler refused to be drawn into questions about his former prodigy, Woolf put the Dolphins’ name in the ring for the 36-year-old halfback.
“If there’s genuine interest, we’d love to have a conversation,” Woolf said.
“We’ve got space in the cap, that’s not a problem. We’ve been very smart in how we’ve managed the cap to make sure we do have opportunities for good players when they become available.”
The Dolphins have Isaiya Katoa on their books at No.7, who has showcased a blossoming skill set at just 21.
However, he has struggled at times to manage a game with the result on the line, which came to the fore as poor fifth-tackle execution cost them against Wests Tigers.
But Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti was adamant the onus was not only on Katoa to turn those plays into winners.
Katoa could benefit from being partnered with a game manager as experienced as Cherry-Evans but Saifiti threw his support behind his current general.
“If you ask any player in the NRL, I think they’d love to play with [Cherry-Evans]. He just hasn’t lost his step, he’s got so much time, he’s silky with the ball, his leadership and talk … I think it’ll only take Issy to the next level,” Saifiti said.
“Issy has shown he’s probably been one of our best players … if he was under someone like Daly Cherry-Evans, I can only imagine it would be a benefit.
“As soon as I first came to the club I was really impressed with his leadership and talk, and I think he’s just going to get better from here.”
Amid the Cherry-Evans talk, Francis Molo has arrived in Redcliffe upon his Dragons’ release and signed through to the end of 2026.
The two-time Maroon played under Woolf at the Broncos, before the latter took him to the Townsville Blackhawks.
The Dolphins’ pack has struggled to make inroads in their winless start to the season – with only Saifiti topping 100 running metres against the Tigers – and Woolf believed Molo would help overturn that run of form.
“He was a great young kid coming through who had a real fire in the belly, had a real aggression about how he played. He was a little raw around the edges back then, but you could just see the power and the impact he could make,” Woolf said.
“He’s mature now.
“He’s been incredible in terms of some of the changes he’s made and some of the things he’s been through as a man. I know we’re getting him here at a great time in his career.”
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