Phil Gould has given some timely advice to clubs looking at Daly Cherry-Evans, with no set timeline on the decision for the Manly superstar.
The 36-year-old will leave the Sea Eagles at the end of this season and has already been linked with a number of teams desperate for a top-line playmaker.
While it’s expected that Cherry-Evans will look to continue his illustrious career, there is yet to be an official call made by the Maroons captain.
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Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, the current head of football at Canterbury explained why officials need to be mindful about juggling a potential play for Cherry-Evans, which may not eventuate until after the 2025 campaign.
Daly Cherry-Evans speaks during the 2024 State of Origin series. Getty
“Whether he plays on or not, that decision hasn’t been made,” Gould said.
“That’s the conundrum for all the other clubs in the competition. They’ve got to keep a spot open and they’ve got to keep money available.
“If he leaves his decision until the end of the season, which is October and you keep that spot available and you miss him, you are left in the lurch.
“If they hope to sign Daly Cherry-Evans and he decides at the end of the year he’s gonna play on – they’ve got to wait a long time for that to happen.
“Those clubs that want him have got to hold a position open and hold the money available until October, which means they may miss out on other opportunities.”
At this stage, the Sydney Roosters and Dolphins appear to be the front-runners should Cherry-Evans want to continue for a 16th season in the top grade.
One team that do know where they stand now are the Sea Eagles, with Gould explaining a silver lining for the club after a tumultuous few days.
“Manly have got clarity and they now know he’s not gonna be there,” he said.
“They can move on and they’ve got money to spend.”
Jamal Fogarty has emerged as a player in Manly’s sights, with reports surfacing on Wednesday night that the club have been interested as far back as November.
