EXCLUSIVE: Darren Lockyer picks the two clubs most likely to sign DCE as stunning Sydney heist firms
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The speculation has well and truly kicked off regarding where Daly Cherry-Evans will play next season and Darren Lockyer believes two clubs stand out as potential suitors.
The 36-year-old dropped a bombshell on Monday night, confirming on Nine's 100% Footy that he would be leaving the Sea Eagles after an incredible career at the club.
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While he didn't completely rule out retirement, it appears as though Cherry-Evans will play on with a rival NRL club next season.
The likes of the Roosters and Dragons have been touted as landing spots from the Sydney-based clubs, but a return to Queensland isn't out of the question and Shane Flanagan has already distanced St George Illawarra from a bid.
According to league great Lockyer, a Broncos director and Queensland State of Origin selector, one of the front-runners to land the champion halfback will be the Titans due to his relationship with his longtime coach Des Hasler.
"If you're joining the dots," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.
"I know DCE has got history with the Titans to a certain degree, but he has the relationship with Des. When you're at that age, you're starting to think what happens after footy and maybe Queensland is where there's more opportunity for him.
"Redcliffe has already acknowledged they are in and they've got some cap space, but I come back to Hasler and that's why I would tip the Titans over the Dolphins."
Cherry-Evans famously backflipped on a move to Gold Coast a decade ago, which led to plenty of criticism from not only the club's fans, but the entire state of Queensland.
However, once he managed to fight his way back into the State of Origin arena, Cherry-Evans has become a proven commodity at that level and skippered the Maroons.
While there would be a romantic side to things should Cherry-Evans reunite with Hasler, many, including Lockyer, believe a top quality game managing half could be the final piece in the puzzle at the Roosters, who are the early front-runners to land the premiership-winning playmaker.
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"The other one, it's a bit like Cooper Cronk at the Roosters," the Broncos great said.
"I know they've got Sam Walker. At the moment, Sam is probably more suited for someone else to run the team. Sam plays off the cuff - I think they would combine well.
"Roosters have shed a few players and they've got some cap space … it's intriguing.
"There's a couple of clubs in Sydney I think he would fit in well, but watch this space."
Lockyer added to the intrigue, speculating that Cherry-Evans may have already agreed to join the Roosters, given they have actively cleared out salary cap space and the Queensland skipper has publicly admitted that he knew he was leaving Manly as far back as "before Christmas" last year.
Cherry-Evans has officially been on the open market since the start of this contract year, which runs from November 1 2024 to October 31 2025.
"Maybe the deal was done on 1 November," Lockyer said wryly.
Sandon Smith has been pencilled in as the long-term partner to Walker at the Tricolours, but the glamour club has never shied away from bringing in superstars on short-term deals, as Lockyer alluded to, citing the Cronk signing in 2018, which resulted in two premierships.
