Phil Gould says Roosters ‘not in frame’ to sign Daly Cherry-Evans

Daly Cherry-Evans is yet to reveal where he’ll be playing next season, but Phil Gould is adamant that despite strong links to the Roosters the star halfback won’t be running out for the tricolours.

Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould has ridiculed suggestions that the Sydney Roosters should sign Manly halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans, insisting it would be a slap in the face to young star Sam Walker.

Gould, whose own club has been linked with Cherry-Evans, said that the time had come for the Roosters to put full faith in Walker, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

“I can’t understand why the Roosters are in the conversation for Daly Cherry-Evans,” Gould said on 100% Footy.

“I mean they have invested heavily in Sam Walker long term as their No.7. So you want to put that on hold for two years and ... play him six — Cherry-Evans is not going there to play six and play on the left hand side of the field.

The Roosters have invested heavily in Sam Walker. Picture: Getty Images

“He is going to come there to play seven — if he goes there. I don’t think he is. I don’t think he is even in the frame. I can’t understand why the Roosters would be remotely interested in putting that roadblock in the way of Sam Walker’s development right now and holding him back for another two years while Cherry-Evans takes over the team.

“The idea of investing in Sam Walker was so he could be the long-term halfback and learn how to manage and control the team now that senior players have left.

“So you just have to be a bit patient. That would be a knee-jerk reaction to bring Cherry-Evans in over the top of Sam Walker.”

Cherry-Evans has already announced he will leave Manly at the end of the season but is yet to reveal where — or if — he will play next season.

The Roosters have been prominently linked with the 36-year-old, the speculation only heightening after coach Trent Robinson said the club would look at the situation.

The Roosters has already shown their belief in Walker by signing the young playmaker to a million-dollar deal but there is a belief in some quarters that he would benefit from working alongside Cherry-Evans for a couple of years.

Gould does not subscribe to that theory. Pressed on whether there was any benefit in Walker playing and learning alongside Cherry-Evans, Gould said: “Nah. Zero. I think you are putting him on hold for two years.

Daly Cherry-Evans has yet to announc where he’ll play next season. Picture: NRL Photos

“I am being serious. The club has invested in Sam Walker as the No.7. That is what they have done. Now you are going to say to Sam just sit back for a couple of years, we are going to get Cherry-Evans to show you how to do it.

“No. Sam Walker has done his apprenticeship, he is just about to come into his important years and he needs to run the team.

“The Roosters need to be patient with that. I don’t see that bringing in Cherry-Evans at this stage is going to benefit Sam Walker at all.

“They have just had a huge transition. They have lost a lot of senior players and a lot of talent. There has to be a time sometimes where you stop, take a breath and start working on a plan over the next two or three years to rebuild.

“Let me tell you if they try to rush it, they will stuff it. I think that would be a bad decision.”

Originally published as Phil Gould says Roosters ‘not in frame’ to sign Daly Cherry-Evans