'They won't stay': Roosters cautioned against Daly Cherry-Evans move as young guns continue to fire
The form of the Sydney Roosters has again placed the spotlight on their potential move to sign Daly Cherry-Evans from next season.
The 36-year-old will leave Manly at the end of this year, with all signs pointing towards the champion halfback signing with the Bondi-based glamour club.
Should he make the move, Cherry-Evans would likely partner Sam Walker in the halves for 2026 and 2027, with reports indicating it would be a two-year contract.
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Sam Walker. Getty
However, even with Walker on the sidelines due to a knee injury, the Roosters have managed to rise up the ladder after a slow start to their campaign.
Trent Robinson's men have won four of their past six games, including a shock upset over the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night in Gosford.
The performances of playmakers Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala have received huge praise across the game, with Andrew Johns a fan of both youngsters.
But it now poses the question as to what happens to both Smith and Savala should the Tricolours go ahead and land the signature of the Queensland captain.
Daly Cherry-Evans. Getty
"You've got to say the development and the coaching of the juniors is spot on," Johns said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"The question for me is that you've got Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala, with how well they're playing, you've got Sam Walker coming back - do they want to buy DCE?
"They've also got Toby Rodwell, who's in the juniors and by all accounts is shooting the lights out and is 18 months off [playing first grade].
"The question has got to be, do you want to spend upwards of $1 million on DCE for two years? You've got these young blokes."
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It was suggested by Paul Gallen that it would be "beneficial" for the current halves to learn from Cherry-Evans and help develop their game long-term.
But the eighth Immortal doesn't think they would stick around long enough.
"They won't stay," Johns said.
"Hugo Savala and Sandon Smith have made their debuts, they are NRL players now. They don't want to go to NSW Cup for two years, they will be moving on.
Sandon Smith in action against Cronulla. Getty
"I also don't see Sam Walker and DCE being that good a partnership. DCE only plays on the right, you never see him on the left. Sammy Walker is a right-sided player and he's instinctive and just plays and DCE is similar.
"You need a steady hand and to me, Walker and Savala together would really go well."
Cherry-Evans confirmed during State of Origin camp that he had been in discussions with the Roosters, but that nothing had been made official as of yet.
The other team in the hunt to sign the Sea Eagles skipper are the Dolphins, who have one of the best young players in the game in Isaiya Katoa wearing the No.7 jumper.
Brad Fittler believes they could be a better fit for Cherry-Evans, but it would still be out of his usual role as the dominant halfback given Katoa's presence.
Isaiya Katoa. Getty
"He did say that the Dolphins are also an opportunity," Fittler said.
"But that might not be to play halfback, that might be to play five-eighth, because the halfback up there is as good as anyone, so he's not taking his spot.
"Has [Kodi] Nikorima got a contract next year? That looks more likely at the moment."
Cherry-Evans will lead the Maroons out on Wednesday night for the Origin opener, but the speculation regarding his future in club land is continuing to bubble away.
