How new Roosters star Daly Cherry-Evans has had an immediate impact at new club
It may take fans some time to get used to Daly Cherry-Evans in a new jersey, the star Roosters recruit has already made an immediate impact at the club, and could be the key to their success in 2026, writes BRENT READ.
The strangest sight of the summer is still Daly Cherry-Evans in a Sydney Roosters jersey. Just plain weird.
We all knew it was coming, but it was still jarring when the moment arrived. Even his successor as captain at Manly – Tom Trbojevic – said as much this week.
While we were all taken aback, Cherry-Evans hasn’t missed a beat. If anything, he has wasted no time delivering for his new club.
There seems little doubt that Cherry-Evans’ presence at the Roosters paved the way for Reuben Garrick to make the switch himself.
The versatile outside back told Manly this week he was leaving at the end of next season, having had his head turned by a two-year deal and the chance to set himself up for life after football.
We’re told Garrick is interested in the real estate game, and the Roosters have plenty of connections in that area. Garrick will get the chance to network with some of the most powerful business figures in Sydney while helping the club chase titles.
News of his move temporarily lit a fire under what has been a relatively tepid off-season in terms of player news. The expectation was that Perth would hit the ground running and prompt a flood of movement.
Instead, the Bears are finding the going tough and while some signings are in the wind – Liam Henry is almost over the line and Tyran Wishart will travel to Perth next week – they won’t shake up the competition.
No need to panic though.
The Bears have time on their side, money to spend, and some smart people driving their football department. They’ll get there in the end.
The Roosters, meanwhile, are there right now.
They have been among the off-season’s big movers and while Garrick is still 12 months away, they have welcomed Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson, and extended the contract of gun back rower Siua Wong.
We’re told that Robson has turned up in tip-top shape, having spent part of his off-season running up and down the headland at Greenmount on the Gold Coast.
Pieces of the puzzle appear to be falling into place.
The Roosters entered last season with moderate expectations and they were never a genuine premiership threat.
They snuck into the top eight and made a hasty exit at the hands of Cronulla.
That felt just about right given they struggled to keep pace with the premiership heavyweights for much of the season.
Next year will be different. The Roosters expect to win and win often. Maybe even win it all. Sam Walker is a year older and a year wiser. He’ll have a full pre-season and should take another step forward with Cherry-Evans by his side.
James Tedesco is coming off a Dally M season. Their outside backs are brilliant. Their forward pack has been stable. Trent Robinson is still one of the best in the business.
Crucially, it has been steady as she goes for the Roosters while some of their biggest rivals have had tumultuous off-seasons, notably the Melbourne Storm.
Brisbane will be thereabouts again. So too, Penrith. Canberra will be in the mix. The Roosters will give them all a fright.
They just need Cherry-Evans to be the player he has been for the past 15 years. That means taking charge and leading the side around.
Take the heat off Walker. Kick to the right spots. Unleash their backline. Organise their forward pack. If he lives up to the billing, there is every chance he will get his hands on the premiership trophy in October.
Now just imagine how weird that will look.
WHY LIV MOVE HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR SMITH
Cameron Smith made a slow start to his Australian PGA assault on Thursday. He wasn’t great. He wasn’t poor. He was just good.
A few years ago being good wasn’t good enough for one of the greatest players this country has produced. Smith went into every tournament with a chance to win.
Scratch that, he went in expecting to win. He won the Open championships in 2022 and reached No.2 in the world. He was among the sport’s elite.
Then LIV came knocking with rivers of gold and Smith couldn’t say no. This columnist was a fan of the revolution led by Greg Norman, armed with the backing of the Saudis.
Clearly Smith was as well. How could he turn it down?
The money bordered on insane and Smith secured the sort of generational wealth that means he could quit tomorrow and never have to work another day in his life.
Just put his feet up and cast a line from the boat that sits on the canal at the back of his home in Florida. He has built quite a life for himself.
Yet those untold riches have, however, come at a cost. Let’s be frank – in terms of his golf, the move to LIV has been an unmitigated disaster.
After peaking in 2022, Smith’s game has been on a steady decline and this year has been among the worst.
Smith missed the cut at all four majors. His world ranking has nosedived into the 300s in large part because LIV is not recognised by the ranking bodies.
Thanks to his win at the Open, he has exemptions at the majors through next year. After that, he will have to qualify for the Masters, US Open and US PGA.
It means the next 12 months will be the most defining of Smith’s career.
LIV’s move to four-round tournaments is the first step towards recognition from the world rankings body and Smith can climb quickly with some good results.
At 32, having become a new dad, he has time on his side.
Smith is still young enough to win majors and challenge the game’s elite. He has a significant mountain to climb given the way Scott Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and the like have left him behind.
LIV may have made him rich, but it hasn’t helped his golf.
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Originally published as How new Roosters star Daly Cherry-Evans has had an immediate impact at new club
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