Daly Cherry-Evans has confirmed he has spoken to the Sydney Roosters and Dolphins about a move next year as snubbed Blues star Tom Trbojevic was named to captain Manly this weekend in his absence.
Cherry-Evans fronted Queensland media on Tuesday and confirmed there have been discussions with the rival NRL clubs, but nothing had been signed – and nothing would be finalised while he was in camp trying to help the Maroons win an Origin series.
“No, I haven’t signed with anyone, and I’ve kept that really tight,” Cherry-Evans said. “I made it clear at the start I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with this process.
“The Roosters are someone I have spoken to, but nothing has been done yet. The Dolphins are one of the sides I have spoken to, but again, nothing has happened.
“I understand people will want to speculate, but ultimately that’s on them.
“The motivation is definitely there to play on next year. When the time is right, I will sign on with a club and make an announcement, but that’s highly unlikely to happen any time soon and certainly not during Origin.”
Cherry-Evans announced in March he would be parting ways with Manly after 15 years, but was not yet prepared to call time on his NRL career.
At 36, Cherry-Evans remains at the top of his game, hence his selection for yet another State of Origin series.
Tom Trbojevic trains at Brookvale on Tuesday.Credit: Thomas Wielecki
While Cherry-Evans spends the week north of the border, Trbojevic will lead the Sea Eagles into battle against Parramatta on Friday night.
Jake Arthur will wear Cherry-Evans’ No.7 jersey – his first NRL game since the end of 2023 – while prop Matt Lodge and hooker Lachie Croker also play their first matches in the top grade this season.
Laurie Daley left Trbojevic out of the NSW side, and said on Monday he wanted Turbo to “go back and play some good football and be confident”.
“I’ve got no doubt Tommy will be back in this arena at some point,” Daley said.
Coach Anthony Seibold said of Trbojevic on Tuesday: “Every player wants to play Origin, and I feel like with Turbo, this is a great opportunity for him to build some confidence in his game.
“The thing that Turbo is very much a hard marker on himself is his attack. He made a couple of errors on the weekend [against the Cowboys], but the thing I said to him was he was putting himself in the picture.
“Defensively, two out of the last three games we’ve played, which we’ve won, against the Panthers and Cowboys, Tommy’s defence, individually and his organisation of the defensive line, have been at an elite level.
“That’s what he has built his game on. We’re just finding ways to get his flow again.
“The way he finished last year, and his form for Australia, and even before he got injured, that game in round one against the Cowboys, that was one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play.
“He’s had an MCL, he’s had corks, so it’s been a stop-start season for him.
“We didn’t count on having him here [during Origin]. But he’ll captain. He’s keen and ready to go.”
Jake Trbojevic will also be missing from the Eels clash due to a concussion, his second in a month, which could yet see him miss more than one week as a precaution.
The return of Lodge is a big plus. The front-rower was not eligible to play before round 11 because he was on a train-and-trial deal.
Meanwhile, Penrith will turn to Tom Lovell to run the water against Newcastle on Saturday evening as Shane Elford serves a one-match ban for squirting a ball with water against the Cowboys.
