Daly Cherry-Evans Faces Uncertain Future
Daly Cherry-Evans will not be replaced by teenager Joey Walsh in 2026, according to Manly coach Anthony Seibold.
Seibold confirmed that Cherry-Evans had informed him of his plan to make 2025 his last season at Brookvale since December.
Cherry-Evans' decision has sparked uncertainty about his future, with Seibold stating that he believes the halfback is unsure if he will play on next season.
Daly Cherry-Evans has played more games at No.7 than any player at any one club, making his potential departure a significant transition for Manly.
Seibold has ruled out rushing Walsh or 17-year-old five-eighth Onitoni Large into the top grade, stating that they are still a couple of years away from being ready.
Manly rate Walsh highly, particularly his kicking game, after bringing him across from rugby union at the start of the pre-season.
Seibold has also confirmed that Tom Trbojevic is a legitimate option to move to No.6 and partner Luke Brooks in the halves.
Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh are very young players, and Seibold wants to give them time to develop before throwing them into the top grade.
Daly Cherry-Evans' future remains uncertain, with Seibold stating that the halfback has the right to take his time in deciding what to do next.
Seibold maintained that Cherry-Evans' situation had not derailed Manly's preparations for their clash with Parramatta on Sunday.
The Manly coach also stated that he had seen only a small fraction of Joey Walsh's abilities, but was impressed with his performance in his first game of rugby league in three years.
Daly Cherry-Evans will turn 37 next year, and Seibold believes that he could still play on if he chooses to.
Seibold's focus is now on executing the right plan for Manly's future, with or without Daly Cherry-Evans.
The situation surrounding Cherry-Evans' future has been compared to reality TV drama, but Seibold is adamant that it has not affected the team's preparations.
Manly's clash with Parramatta on Sunday will be a crucial test for the team, and Seibold is confident that they can still achieve their goals despite the uncertainty surrounding Daly Cherry-Evans' future.