Daly Cherry-Evans 'genuinely doesn't know' 2026 plans, claims Manly coach Anthony Seibold

Manly coach Anthony Seibold believes Daly Cherry-Evans genuinely doesn't know if he's going to be playing in the NRL next season.

The Sea Eagles' skipper announced on Monday he would not be playing for the Sea Eagles in 2026, but did not say he would retire.

If he elects to play on, the Roosters are favourites to secure his signature if he stays in Sydney, or the Dolphins if he moves north.

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Cherry-Evans was denied an early release at the end of 2023. Off-contract at the end of 2025, he told Seibold and the club last December he would chase an extension.

Despite having told the club he wants to leave twice, Seibold denied the suggestion DCE doesn't want to be at the club.

"I don't think it's [that] he doesn't want to be here. My conversations with Chez I'll keep private, because that's the way it should be," he said in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I feel Chez is very genuine with regards to him not knowing what he wants to do next.

"Does he want to play on? Next birthday he's 37. Could he play on? I think he probably could, but only he can answer that.

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"As a 36-year-old who has played 332 games for our club – he's [also] played Origin and for Australia – ultimately he gets to make that call.

"Of course people want to know [if and where he will play next], but I genuinely believe Chez hasn't made a decision about what he wants to do.

"We're three rounds into a 27-round season. I think he should be able to make a decision on what he wants to do in his own time. It's a physical game."

The club had held discussions of a two-year contract extension, before formally tabling an offer on Tuesday morning after the news broke.

Despite this week's distraction, Seibold said DCE informing the club as early as he did has given them time to work out "what we do next".

"What we don't want to do is go away from focusing on the moment," he said.

"We've had a really good start to the season. It's been business as usual internally, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we show how connected we are with our actions on Sunday."

The Sea Eagles play Parramatta on Sunday afternoon at Brookvale Oval.