The Sydney Roosters are embarking on a bold experiment, hoping history will repeat itself as veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans prepares for his club debut against the NZ Warriors this Friday. The high-stakes move draws direct parallels to the club’s successful acquisition of Cooper Cronk, a Queensland legend who delivered back-to-back premierships during his tenure.
This strategic signing places Cherry-Evans, 37, in an unfamiliar five-eighth role alongside young halfback Sam Walker, creating one of the most anticipated new partnerships of the NRL season. While trial matches showed promising offensive coordination between the veterans, head coach Trent Robinson emphasizes that true validation will only come under regular season pressure.
“That has to be seen,” Robinson stated regarding the duo’s on-field chemistry. “We’re really happy with the work that we’ve done in the pre-season with those guys and the combination that they have, but it does start with an off-field connection.”
The veteran’s transition follows his surprising departure from Manly after 352 games as their primary playmaker. Despite changing jersey numbers, Cherry-Evans remains a potent offensive threat after setting up 24 tries last season. “I’ve been playing for a long time, so there’s a lot of my game that’s going to be very similar when it comes to the way a halfback plays,” Cherry-Evans commented. “Yeah, I’m wearing number six, but there’s a lot of things that I need to do for this team when it comes to leading the team around.”
Meanwhile, the Roosters face additional considerations with centre Robert Toia likely sidelined due to injury and representative forward Angus Crichton committed to the club before his planned code switch to rugby in 2027.