Phil Gould has shared valuable insights for clubs considering signing Daly Cherry-Evans, the prominent Manly Sea Eagles captain who is set to leave the club at the end of the current season. The 36-year-old playmaker has generated buzz among several teams eager to acquire his talents as he contemplates the continuation of his successful career, although he has yet to announce any decisions.
In a discussion on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, Gould, currently overseeing football operations at Canterbury, highlighted the complexities clubs face when pursuing Cherry-Evans. He emphasised that teams looking to sign the star player must anticipate that his decision might not come until after the 2025 season, which complicates their planning. Clubs looking to secure his services may need to keep roster spots and finances available until Cherry-Evans’ eventual choice is made, potentially causing them to miss other recruitment opportunities if they hesitate.
Gould outlined the dilemma clubs are in: "If he leaves his decision until the end of the season, you keep that spot available and you miss him, you are left in the lurch," he remarked. This uncertainty defines the strategies of those interested in Cherry-Evans, as they have to decide whether to wait or pursue other options more immediately.
Currently, the Sydney Roosters and Dolphins are leading the race if Cherry-Evans opts for a 16th season in the NRL. Conversely, the Sea Eagles are now aware of his plans, giving them clarity and the chance to allocate their resources elsewhere. Gould noted that this knowledge allows Manly to move forward with their recruitment efforts and potentially sign new players, with Jamal Fogarty emerging as a strong contender since interest in him surfaced as far back as November.
As the situation unfolds, clubs must carefully navigate the recruitment landscape, weighing the risk of waiting on a decision that may delay their strategic plans against the potential reward of signing a game-changing player like Cherry-Evans.