Daly Cherry-Evans will be 'irreplaceable' for Manly - but the club aren't short of options
How do you replace the "irreplaceable" in less than 12 months?
South Sydney failed to do it with Adam Reynolds and now the pressure will be on the Sea Eagles to find a way to fill the void left by Daly Cherry-Evans next season.
In one of the biggest bombshells in recent memory, one of Manly's all-time greats made the decision on Monday that his time at the club would finish at the end of 2025.
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Despite rumblings of a low-ball offer, Cherry-Evans has denied things even got that far and has known his time was coming to a close from December onwards.
Daly Cherry-Evans is set to leave Manly. Getty
Chief executive Tony Mestrov backed the skipper's version of events on Tuesday and also said the Sea Eagles had "plans in place" to find a new halfback, although he confirmed that the club's preference is to convince Cherry-Evans to change his mind and stay on for a further two seasons.
"We'll decide internally how long we'll wait (for Cherry-Evans to change his mind)," Mestrov told reporters.
"Further to that, we obviously have got plans in place beyond Daly. We knew this day would possibly come, so we've got some planning which I don't want to go into today.
"We've got plans beyond Daly and we know he's supportive of that."
That will be easier said than done and Mestrov is fully aware of how difficult it will be for Manly to fill the massive shoes left by the premiership and State of Origin winner.
"He's irreplaceable," the club's boss said.
"We kind of knew this day would come and we've got planning behind that.
"He's irreplaceable but like every club, we've got to move on."
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The first question for Manly will be whether they go to market and look to use some of Cherry-Evans' big pay packet to find another marquee playmaker.
But as has become increasingly evident in recent years, those types of players don't grow on trees in the world of rugby league.
Adam Reynolds is still unsigned at the Broncos and is keen to play on, while a player like Jamal Fogarty has plenty of footy ahead of him and isn't locked in at Canberra.
Jamal Fogarty in action for the Raiders. Getty
But if Mestrov's press conference is anything to go by, Manly have other ideas and might not even entertain going for Reynolds, Fogarty or any off-contract halfback.
"We've got some exciting young talent in Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh - they are the future," he said.
"We've also got other plans for other players and moving positions."
Large joined the club in the off-season after impressing in the lower grades at the Wests Tigers, but is still a number of years away from playing NRL and is viewed more as a ball runner than a game manager, potentially making him better suited to replace Luke Brooks when his time also comes to an end.
Walsh is a Northern Beaches local who looked set to be a rugby union sensation after playing fly-half for the Australian Schoolboys team last year.
Joey Walsh is one of Manly's brightest young talents. Manly Sea Eagles
Having juggled union with league through most of his high school years, Walsh was convinced by the Sea Eagles to commit his future to the NRL as the potential successor to Cherry-Evans and is in the first season of a three-year deal.
Mestrov's comments will also fuel continued suggestions that Tom Trbojevic will move into the five-eighth role when Cherry-Evans leaves the club.
While one of the best fullbacks in the competition, Trbojevic has battled with injuries and the club also has Lehi Hopoate on their books until the end of 2027.
A likely scenario, judging off Mestrov's hint and teenagers Walsh and Large not being quite ready for the rigours of first grade footy, would see Trbojevic wear the No.6 jumper and Luke Brooks switch to halfback for at least one season.
Tom Trbojevic has been linked with a move to the halves. Getty
It's not the worst position to be in for the Sea Eagles, but the fact they have allowed the likes of Jamie Humphreys, Latu Fainu and Kaeo Weekes to move on before Cherry-Evans made his shock decision will have some fans questioning the long-term direction.
Manly officials are confident they can remain a force even without Cherry-Evans.
But even the head honcho admitted the 36-year-old will be "irreplaceable" confirms it will be a tough task and could take plenty of adjustments.
After all, Cherry-Evans has played more than 330 games in the maroon and white kit.
