Andrew Johns has expressed criticism of Manly’s “disrespectful” contract offer to club captain Daly Cherry-Evans for the upcoming season. At 36, Cherry-Evans is the oldest player in the competition yet remains keen on extending his career, potentially seeking a two-year extension to his current contract.
Reports suggest that the Sea Eagles have proposed a significantly reduced contract of $600,000, a stark decrease from his current salary of over $1 million. Johns, a former rugby league star, has questioned the rationale behind such a low offer, highlighting Cherry-Evans’s status as one of the game’s elite playmakers and his recent performance as captain during last year’s State of Origin.
Johns remarked on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour that Cherry-Evans demonstrates exceptional durability, having missed only 20 games throughout his lengthy career, indicating his professional approach to physical preparation and injury management. He suggested that a more appropriate contractual figure would be around $800,000 to $850,000, stating, “You don’t do that [low offer] to someone like Daly.”
Manly’s coach, Anthony Seibold, expressed hopes of retaining Cherry-Evans for as long as he desires to play, but the uncertainty surrounding his contract will continue to attract media attention. Johns believes that it would be unacceptable for Cherry-Evans to wear another team’s colours, asserting that it would undermine the integrity of his long-standing commitment to Manly. According to Johns, strong clubs often rely on seasoned players to accept lesser pay, which, in turn, stabilizes the team’s finances and performance.
Johns reiterated the significance of Cherry-Evans to the team’s future, stating, “They need him.” He pointed out that should Cherry-Evans depart, the team may struggle to find suitable replacements in the halves position, signalling the risk involved in allowing the experienced player to leave. Cherry-Evans is currently recovering from a back injury sustained in round two, with expectations that he will return for the next match, while star fullback Tom Trbojevic is set to miss the clash against Canberra due to a hamstring injury.
What remains clear is that Cherry-Evans’s future at the Sea Eagles is a pressing topic within the NRL, and both fans and players alike will be watching closely as negotiations unfold.