- Daly Cherry-Evans won’t be at Sea Eagles in 2026
- Manly have reportedly earmarked halfback’s replacement
An insider has revealed the snub that led to Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to ditch the Sea Eagles next season – and that Wests Tigers young gun Lachlan Galvin is the player the club want to replace him in the halves from 2026 onwards.
Cherry-Evans, 36, stunned footy fans earlier this week after confirming he ‘had a burning desire to play on’ – but has chosen to do that elsewhere.
Where the veteran ends up remains to be seen – but the Roosters or Bulldogs appear to be the likely destination.
The Gold Coast Titans are a dark horse option given Cherry-Evans is close with head coach Des Hasler, whom he won a premiership under in 2011.
It comes as Daily Mail Australia has been told the halfback was reportedly approached by the Dolphins ahead of their entry to the NRL competition in 2023.
Cherry-Evans – who played his junior football at Redcliffe in Queensland, where his father also starred – was purportedly offered a multi-year deal and was said to be interested, but ultimately stayed put on Sydney’s northern beaches.
An insider has revealed why Daly Cherry-Evans (pictured with wife Vessa) won’t be at the Sea Eagles next season
Where the veteran ends up in 2026 remains to be seen – but the Roosters or Bulldogs appear to be the likely destination
Daily Mail Australia has been told the halfback was reportedly approached by the Dolphins ahead of their entry to the NRL competition in 2023 (Cherry-Evans is pictured, as a junior playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins in Queensland)
He previously signed a ‘lifetime’ deal with Manly in 2015 following his infamous backflip on a four-year deal with the Titans – but was reportedly open to a new challenge at the NRL’s newest franchise under Wayne Bennett if the Sea Eagles granted him a release.
The Queensland Origin representative confirmed on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy earlier this week he has been weighing up his future since December.
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov said on Tuesday the club gave their captain space to make his decision – and that Cherry-Evans had suggested he was leaning towards retiring or playing overseas.
The club maintain they offered ‘DCE’ a two-year deal through his agent Joe Wehbe at lunchtime on Monday – only to for Cherry-Evans to state on live television hours later he would be seeking different opportunities in 2026.
‘No more footy at Manly beyond this year,’ he said on Channel Nine.
‘It certainly hasn’t been a decision that’s been made overnight, but I feel a lot better letting everyone know about it.’
Following Cherry-Evans’ announcement, Mestrov told reporters less than 24 hours later there was no rift between the playmaker and club.
‘It is his decision, and I will stress there is no animosity from us, or from Cherry,’ he said.
‘He is a legend of this club, and if he continues to play in the NRL, we hope it is with the Manly Sea Eagles.’
With Cherry-Evans almost certain to be leaving Brookvale later this year, who partners Luke Brooks in the halves is the question many fans want answered.
Tigers rising star Galvin is the player Manly have reportedly earmarked to replace Cherry-Evans.
They can’t officially table an offer to the youngster until November 1, when he is off-contract at the joint venture club.
Daily Mail Australia is also not suggesting any representative from the Sea Eagles has approached Galvin or his management.
Galvin’s agent is Isaac Moses, whose other clients include Sea Eagles head coach Anthony Siebold, head of recruitment Peter Gentle as well as forward Ethan Bullemor, halfback Brooks and outside back Tommy Talau.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .