Daly Cherry-Evans’ future has been a hot topic in rugby league in recent weeks — but the veteran playmaker is certain he will play on.
The 36-year-old is set to run out for his 350th NRL game on Saturday in a crucial clash with finals implications for both teams against the Dolphins.
However, the clash also marks his second last game in front of the Brookvale faithful, having made the decision to depart the club at the season’s end.
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It’s one of the NRL’s worst kept secrets, but Cherry-Evans reportedly has agreed verbally to a one-year contract with the Roosters for the 2026 season.
There have been calls for the experienced playmaker to hang up the boots, but Cherry-Evans told Code Sports he is certain he will continue next year.
“I’m not feeling the same as what I felt when I was 28, but I still definitely believe that I can uphold a standard that allows me to play in the NRL for a bit longer,” he said.
“I’ve always backed myself.
“There’s people around you that will tell you the honest truth and that’s something that’s always helped me keep things in perspective when I am playing poorly.
“I’ve got the right people that are telling me when I’m playing well, and the right people are telling me when things aren’t going so well.
“I’m not getting that advice to retire. I still feel as though there’s more left in me. If that’s the case, while the fire’s still burning, you keep going, right?”
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Many pundits have attributed Cherry-Evans’ decision to leave the club as a major destabilising factor for the Sea Eagles, whose finals hopes hang by a thread.
However, he hit back at those claims, using the Panthers as an example of a club who have found sustained success with big-name players departing.
“The last four years Penrith have won. They’ve lost big name players every year and it hasn’t destabilised them,” he said.
“I feel like we pick and choose what narrative we want to attach to a club. That’s the one the critics of me wanted to attach to Manly, so I haven’t lost any sleep over that narrative.
“I don’t really have any regrets, to be honest.”
