Canterbury Bulldogs have officially withdrawn from the pursuit of Daly Cherry-Evans, as confirmed by football general manager Phil Gould. The 36-year-old halfback, who recently stirred speculation with a surprising announcement, will not be heading to Belmore. Gould expressed his admiration for Cherry-Evans, calling him “an ornament to the game” and stating, “I’ve been a fan of his football his whole career.” However, he made it clear that the Bulldogs have no intention of signing him.
After Cherry-Evans announced his potential departure from Manly, Gould initially refrained from dismissing the possibility of a move during his appearance on the 100% Footy panel. However, he later clarified Canterbury’s stance, emphasising that the club has ample playmaking options to consider moving forward, in line with head coach Cameron Ciraldo’s vision for the team.
Currently, Toby Sexton remains without a contract for the next season, yet he has shown significant improvement, and another young talent, Mitch Woods, is secured on a long-term deal.
In related news, both South Sydney and Brisbane have also ruled out efforts to sign Cherry-Evans. Conversely, Roosters coach Trent Robinson has signalled interest in the experienced playmaker.
Daly Cherry-Evans continues to be a prominent figure in conversations regarding player movement in the NRL, but for now, his future remains uncertain.