‘Have they got cold feet?': Bombshell DCE rumours revealed as big Roosters issue emerges
Doubts have been raised over the Roosters' bid to sign Daly Cherry-Evans after the Manly skipper's form slump this season and reports they have gone cold on the axed Maroons star.
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The Roosters were believed to have struck a deal with Cherry-Evans for 2026 and potentially 2027, but the 36-year-old's form has led to reports the club may be having second thoughts.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said the deal was the 'elephant in the room' and questioned whether the Roosters had gotten 'cold feet'.
Fox League's James Hooper revealed discussions between both parties had 'gone quiet'.
'I don't think there has been any contract signed,' he said on NRL 360 on Monday.
'I am certain that there has been some talks take place and I think it has gone a little bit quiet in recent times.'
Hooper, however, said he expected the Roosters to honour an agreement that may have been reached.
'Nick Politis is a man of integrity and a man of his word,' he said.
'I think if he has verbally spoken to Daly and they have done any sort of deal, he will honour that.'
'The Roosters have got Toby Rodwell underneath Sam Walker, who will be a star of the future.
'I think they think adding Daly Cherry-Evans into their roster for one or two years, can help educate the crop of young halves that they have there at the moment and benefit Sam Walker.'
Anasta then cautioned the Roosters over agreeing to a two-year deal for Cherry-Evans.
'I think it would be a good decision still if it is one year, two years I don't think so,' Anasta said.
'What if Daly will only take it if it is two years?' Hooper interjected.
'That's the issue,' Anasta replied.
'We have heard at different stages it is one year and it is two years. I think that is a big difference with where Daly is at right now, not just in terms of age but his form, two years is a big risk at that money.
'One year, you get the benefit of an experienced player, who just walks straight into the team and makes them a premiership threat.
'He can teach those younger kids and they can learn from him and be their mentor, but two years you are probably going to lose a couple of players.
'That's a long time for him. So that to me either makes the deal a good one or a bad one is the time that he signs there.'
After Manly's last to the Titans on Friday night, Cherry-Evans was asked to respond to a rumour doing the rounds that his deal with the Roosters could collapse amid his poor on-field form, but the veteran didn't give much away in response.
'I sort of don't understand that stuff - I stay out of it,' he said.
'All I can do is control my footy at Manly and speculation will be speculation.
'But obviously we've just lost a couple in a row so it would be silly for me to be worrying about stuff like that.'
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