Cherry-Evans is still joining Roosters, and it leaves Savala as odd man out

Hugo Savala is preparing to hit the open market from November 1 to gauge if he can find a starting role away from the Sydney Roosters, with the Bondi club on the verge of officially confirming its Daly Cherry-Evans signing.

It’s been one of the worst-kept secrets in rugby league since midway through the year: Cherry-Evans will be joining the tricolours to see out his time in the NRL, with the veteran signing a one-year deal with a one-year option added in.

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The star halfback, who has only ever played for Manly in his NRL career up to this season, will be paid around $600,000 in each of the seasons he ends up playing, whether that’s one or two. He has been signed for ’26 for some months, but it was agreed everything wouldn’t be unveiled until after November 1 to protect “DCE” from Sea Eagles backlash.

His arrival means 23-year-old Savala won’t have a place in the team next season. Sam Walker will play in the halves alongside Cherry-Evans; The Sporting Base believes it will be Cherry-Evans No.6, Walker No.7.

Considering his 21-game stint with the Roosters this year, there should be several suitors. Sydney has asked Savala to stay, and would offer him an extension if he does want to remain in Bondi as a backup for Walker and Cherry-Evans, but the 23-year-old believes he can be an NRL regular and turned them down.

(A similar story to Sandon Smith, who just joined the Newcastle Knights thanks to the DCE signing.)

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“Truthfully, in my heart, I’m a Rooster, and my goal was to play for the Roosters,” Savala told Zero Tackle this year. “It means the world to me. I’ve gone for them my entire life, and I wouldn’t want to do it for any other club. It was the best feeling. All my mates support the Roosters, we’re from Eastern Suburbs, and that’s all we ever know, the red, white and blue.”

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At the time, he said he was eager to lock down a regular place in the team and believed he could achieve that by “just playing good footy.”

The Dragons and Titans both need halfbacks, and could go in for Savala in free agency.