Phil Gould has dismissed suggestions that Manly Sea Eagles will release captain Daly Cherry-Evans early from his contract, labelling the idea as "ridiculous." Despite informing the club earlier this season that he would not be continuing with them, speculation surrounds a potential move to the Roosters. However, Cherry-Evans has not publicly commented on these rumours, which include the possibility of a mid-season departure.
Manly currently occupies eighth place and remains competitive in the season, leading Gould to question why the team would consider parting ways with such a pivotal player. On his podcast, Six Tackles with Gus, he stated, "Why would Manly give up on their season now? I can’t see that happening." He emphasised that he could not imagine the club relinquishing their prospects at this stage.
When Cherry-Evans announced his decision to leave, there were suggestions that Gould’s Bulldogs could be in the running for his services, although the Bulldogs’ general manager asserted that they are not pursuing him. The Roosters have consistently been linked to Cherry-Evans, particularly after former player Brandon Smith hinted at a deal being in place for his departure. Nevertheless, Gould remains sceptical about this potential transfer, insisting that he supports Sam Walker as the primary halfback for the Roosters and struggles to understand the speculation surrounding Cherry-Evans heading to the club.
In conclusion, Gould appears firm in his belief that Cherry-Evans will remain with Manly for the duration of the season, reinforcing his stance on both the team’s current situation and the value of their captain.