Daly Cherry-Evans formally declines upgraded Manly offer, club targeting Bronco Adam Reynolds as replacement

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has formally declined the Sea Eagles’ two year contract extension as the club turns its attention to three high-profile halfback replacements. See the full hit list.

Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has formally declined the Sea Eagles’ two year contract extension all but certainly ending his time at the club. It comes as the Sea Eagles consider making an approach to Brisbane veteran Adam Reynolds and a potential homecoming for veteran Kieran Foran.

Manly sent Cherry-Evans’ a two-year contract extension on Tuesday worth about $700,000 a season in the hope of having the halfback reconsider his decision to move on from the club at the end of the season.

That has not eventuated with Cherry-Evans informing the club that this season will be his last. The Sea Eagles will now shift their attention to potential replacements for Cherry-Evans as they look to add a veteran half.

Reynolds’ name has been discussed as has Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty. It is also understood that Foran could be up for grabs given his contract expires at the Titans at the end of this year.

Manly have high hopes for young halves Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large who they have on long-term deals. But the emerging playmakers may be at least 12 months away from being ready to become permanent NRL players.

Adam Reynolds is one of three high-profile targets.

Foran spent seven years at Manly, winning a premiership in 2011 before moving to Parramatta at the end of the 2015 season on a big-money deal.

He eventually returned to Manly for the 2021 and 2022 seasons before finding a home at the Gold Coast Titans, where he is off contract at the end of the year.

It is understood he now shapes as one of the players under consideration as Manly look to fill the void left behind by Cherry-Evans, whose imminent exit was still the talk of Sydney’s northern beaches on Thursday.

“Obviously very disappointed I’m not going to be playing with him again next year,” Cherry-Evans’ good friend and Manly centre Reuben Garrick said.

“He’s making his decision and I’m going to support him 100 percent. I think he’s getting it out of the way early ... so obviously there’s that shock factor at the start from the decision.

“Hopefully, it dies pretty quick and we can focus on what we want to do. I think that’s why he’s trying to get it out of the way - so there’s not the speculation …. so we can focus on winning the comp here.”

Garrick was among the select group of players that Cherry-Evans gave a heads-up to before he went public with his plans to walk away from the club at the end of the year.

“He rang me that day,” said Garrick, who celebrated the birth of his first child at the weekend.

Jamal Fogarty can negotiate with rivals from November 1. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I wasn’t here (at the club) - I was at the hospital still. But he gave me a call. He’s a great player and a great leader at the club.

“The stuff he does behind closed doors that not many people would see, I think that in itself is the best in the comp.

“Obviously, he’s a great mate of mine and I’ve played a lot of football with him. You don’t want to see your mates leave the club, but obviously there’s reasons behind it.

“I’m 100 per cent behind him whatever he chooses to do.”

Originally published as Daly Cherry-Evans formally declines upgraded Manly offer, club targeting Bronco Adam Reynolds as replacement