This weekend, 36-year old Daly Cherry-Evans, a Manly premiership winner and Queensland Origin legend, brings up his 350th NRL game. In neat symmetry, former teammate now-Eel Dylan Walker celebrates his 250th against the Roosters where Daly appears destined.
Hypothetically, should Daly Cherry-Evans be a recruitment target given Dylan’s impending departure?
In Super’s recent Be The GM blog it was passionately argued either way. It's probably a moot point as rumours are swirling that the Roosters see DCE as a Cronk 2.0 whose class and experience guided them to 2018-19 double-premiership double at 35-36 years of age before retiring.
The Case For, Aye
Incomparable experience: skill, leadership, class and mentoring. He could leave leave a lasting imprint on the likes of Hawkins, Papali’i, Iongi, Da Silva, Twiddle, Lorenzo, Lynn.
Spine balance: The Eels’ playmakers outside Moses and Walker both 30 are very young. Papali’i (21, 11 games), Ryley Smith (22, 19 games), Isaiah Iongi (22, 19 games), Dean Hawkins (26, 26 games), Talyn Da Silva (20, 28 games).
Marketing & Profile: Signing a 350-game legend would bring publicity and credibility. Perhaps, help attract other talent?
Finals push: The Eels might immediately become stronger.
The Case Against, Nay
Only a Short-term fix: 37 at the start of next season, how many seasons are left?
Injury risks: Father time catches up to all of us, even a player as resilient as DCE. Think Mitchell Moses in recent seasons.
Value & opportunity: He would demand a lot. Would he block or push younger halves in our pipeline out of the club? What of Joash, Hawkins? This is a dilemma any suitors, even the Roosters face.
Cap chaos: Imagine around $2.5m plus out if both halves are injured? On top of Matto, Hands, Simo, Lane's 2026 contracts and any freight that could be around another $3m. We're talking not far off half the cap. It's getting borderline risk-management irresponsbility.
Leadership clash: As a more decorated captain than Moses, used to calling the shots, would there be a clash? Would Moses goes back to his Tigers' days as a running six? Too many generals?
Cultural fit: Would a Manly/Queensland legend truly fit into Parramatta’s locker room identity?
Body on the line: Cooper Cronk has admitted he lost the hunger to defend like a tackling machine late in his career. Has DCE? And if so, why?
Fox Sport's Cooper Cronk was critical of DCE's recent playmaking form and for not putting his body on the line defensively.
“The advice to Daly is, mate, if you want to play on, do, but find your physicality, " Cronk suggested and who played in the Roosters' grand final with a broken shoulder blade.
"As a half (in defence), once you lose that physical nature...you’re missing the contest...Because I know at the back end of my career, I limped to the finish line...Getting a whack, squaring up defenders wasn’t enjoyable at 36 years of age. But, you have to do it because it created space for other people. Once I stepped away from it, that would have hurt the team’s performance."
Your say
My first instinct was aye. But after weighing up the pros and cons, it's not such a slam dunk.
Over to you, ladies and gentlemen. Aye or Nay?
DCE 249th game: a demoralizing 26-12 Tigers loss. Cronk was critical of his performance with and without the ball.
Replies
Terrible idea, no thanks. Anasta said on 360 last night that the figure being touted by the roosters is considerably less than what he's on now. In any case it's still a no for me
No way thank you . Reason f when you put two bulls in a paddock that think they are number one it always doesn't end well eg him and moses. 2 to old for me to even to even contemplate. You can see at his agenow he is not the player he was . 3 I feel trust Ryles plan . Let's see with a full preseason for young joash and Lorenzo go . People have got remember Joash has mainly played fullback.so lets just what the coach has in store for us for next year and beyond . I could go on with other reasons for No but these few are enough for me . Just my humble opinions
Nay
NAY
I'm still heavily leaning to the Jayden Campbell pick. Do whatever they can to get him.
I'm right there with you on your bandwagon.
Just to make my position clear hell too the NO for DCE.
He would be perfect for us.
He signed with the Roosters 5 months ago
Thanks gentlemen. All NOs so far. Expected a few AYES.
It's interesting DCE hasn't announced his intentions for 2026...
Nay.
Can't stand the knob, and as far as his playing ability goes... he's done. At 36, he's well and truly done.
He should have retired this year and got a big send off and left the club as a Manly legend. He's ruining it all for 1 dumb season at the Roosters where he'll get shafted by round 5 anyway.
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