Cherry-Evans to Roosters all wrapped up, but for one Sea Eagles catch

Daly Cherry-Evans has just one more Manly Sea Eagles hurdle to clear before his move to the Sydney Roosters in 2026 can be announced: Both NRL teams agreed not to release anything on the signing until after the season wraps up.

The Sea Eagles captain put pen to paper on a deal with Bondi’s glamour club as far back as April, but each party has been holding off after their handshake deal in the middle of negotiations.

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The “DCE” move has been among the worst kept secrets in rugby league circles for some months now, with the 36-year-old leaving the Sea Eagles after nearly 350 games on the Northern Beaches since he debuted in 2011. There was a chance he’d extend his time in Manly, but the Queenslander eventually decided to move a little further south next year.

And for those looking for the ‘why,’ the Sporting Base can reveal it came down to post-footy life.

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While the Sea Eagles had been happy to give DCE a club gig heading into 2027 and beyond, the Roosters wooed their new no.7 signing by making sure he’d slot straight into a coaching role with an in-contract transition.

How long that coaching role runs for has been kept very quiet by Sydney’s negotiators.

DCE will be 37 by the time his 12 months playing for the tricolours wraps up, so it makes complete sense.

What left many scratching their heads was the fact that Manly could have had a similar role available to him, but this Base writer understands DCE’s family wanted to move closer to Sydney proper after so long living in Curl Curl. They’ll still keep that northern home, which the Cherry-Evans originally bought in 2018 for around $3.4 million.

Coin paid a role too, with the Roosters’ post-playing offer trumping Manly’s informal approach.