How does one replace the “unreplaceable” within a span of just 12 months?
South Sydney struggled to do so when Adam Reynolds departed, and now it’s the Sea Eagles who will face the challenge of filling the significant gap left by Daly Cherry-Evans next season.
In a shocking turn of events, one of Manly’s legends announced on Monday that his tenure at the club will conclude at the end of 2025.
Although there were whispers of a less-than-ideal contract offer, Cherry-Evans has refuted claims that negotiations ever progressed that far, acknowledging that he sensed this moment was approaching since December.
Daly Cherry-Evans is preparing to depart Manly. Getty
Chief Executive Tony Mestrov supported the captain’s narrative on Tuesday and mentioned that the Sea Eagles are “making plans” to secure a new halfback. However, he confirmed that the club’s primary aim is to persuade Cherry-Evans to reconsider and extend his stay for an additional two years.
“We’ll determine internally how long we are willing to wait for Cherry-Evans to change his mind,” Mestrov told the media.
“Additionally, we have plans beyond Daly. We anticipated this day could come, so we’ve developed some strategies, which I won’t go into detail about right now.
“We have plans for the future and understand he is supportive of this.”
However, executing this will not be straightforward, and Mestrov acknowledges the significant challenge for Manly in filling the considerable void left by the premiership and State of Origin champion.
“He’s irreplaceable,” stated the club’s head honcho.
“We somewhat foresaw this moment and have made preparations for it.
“He’s irreplaceable, but like every other club, we must find a way to move forward.”
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The first matter for Manly will be whether they will explore the market and potentially use part of Cherry-Evans’ substantial salary to recruit another prominent playmaker.
Yet, it has become increasingly clear in recent years that such players are hard to come by in the rugby league landscape.
Adam Reynolds remains without a contract at the Broncos and is eager to continue playing, whilst a talent like Jamal Fogarty is not currently tied down at Canberra and has many more years of football ahead of him.
Jamal Fogarty in action for the Raiders. Getty
However, based on Mestrov’s press conference, it appears that Manly may not pursue Reynolds, Fogarty, or any other halfback available on the market.
“We have some exciting young talent in Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh – they represent our future,” he stated.
“Additionally, we have other plans involving different players and positional changes.”
Large arrived at the club during the off-season after turning heads in the lower grades with the Wests Tigers, but is still a few years away from playing in the NRL, and is seen more as a ball runner rather than a chief orchestrator, which could make him a more suitable replacement for Luke Brooks when his time also comes to a close.
Walsh is a local from the Northern Beaches who, after playing fly-half for the Australian Schoolboys last year, seemed destined for rugby union before the Sea Eagles encouraged him to commit his future to the NRL, potentially positioning him as a successor to Cherry-Evans while currently on a three-year deal.
Joey Walsh is regarded as one of Manly’s most promising young stars. Manly Sea Eagles
Mestrov’s remarks will also intensify ongoing speculation that Tom Trbojevic could move to the five-eighth position once Cherry-Evans departs the club.
Though regarded as one of the most proficient fullbacks in the league, Trbojevic has faced injury challenges, and the club is committed to Lehi Hopoate until the end of 2027.
A plausible outcome, based on Mestrov’s comments and given that teenagers Walsh and Large aren’t quite ready for the demands of first-grade football, could see Trbojevic shifting to the No.6 jersey while Luke Brooks transitions to halfback for at least one season.
Tom Trbojevic has been mentioned in connection with a shift to the halves. Getty
This scenario is not the most undesirable for the Sea Eagles, but having allowed talents such as Jamie Humphreys, Latu Fainu, and Kaeo Weekes to depart prior to Cherry-Evans’s surprising announcement could leave some supporters questioning the club’s long-term strategy.
Manly officials are optimistic they can continue to be a competitive side without Cherry-Evans.
Yet, even the club’s chief acknowledged that the 36-year-old will be “impossible to replace,” indicating that the transition will be challenging and will require considerable adjustments.
After all, Cherry-Evans has accumulated over 330 games representing the maroon and white.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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