Ivan Cleary responds after DCE floated to partner Nathan in Panthers' halves
Ivan Cleary has rejected suggestions the Penrith Panthers could make a play for Daly Cherry-Evans to partner son Nathan in the NRL team's halves. Speculation is rife about where Cherry-Evans might play (if at all) in 2026 after he dropped a bombshell on Monday night that he's leaving Manly.
Cherry-Evans said 2025 will be his last season with the Sea Eagles, but he expressed a desire to keep playing. Rumours are rife that he might have already signed a lucrative two-year deal with another club, and the most popular option amongst pundits is the Roosters.
Some have suggested the Panthers might be an option because Cherry-Evans is looking to win one more premiership before the end of his career. He might view the Panthers as the best club to do that, and a halves combination of DCE and Cleary would be formidable.
But when asked about the possibility on Tuesday afternoon, Panthers coach Cleary said it won't be happening. The four-time premiership winner simply declared: "He wouldn't be in our price range."
The Panthers' salary cap constraints are well-documented, and most recently they had to let Jarome Luai leave to join the Tigers on $1.4 million per season. While Manly have only offered Cherry-Evans $750,000 per season, a rival club will no doubt be willing to offer $1 million.
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As Cleary stated, it's highly unlikely the Panthers would have the money to lure DCE, and they're focused on building up their young halves like Jack Cole, Blaize Talagi and Trent Toelau. The Roosters are believed to be in the box seat to sign Cherry-Evans because they have the cap space to get it done.
If they've already signed the veteran halfback it would explain why they were so willing to let Terrell May depart. Crucially, Cherry-Evans' management team also looks after Roosters superstar James Tedesco, as well as NSW State of Origin hooker Reece Robson - who has signed with the Chooks for 2026.
If he's got the same manager as Ben Hunt, we could sign Daly and Tom
— 91 03 21 22 23 24 PREMIERS 🐾🏆 (@SnoogThe) March 25, 2025
The Dolphins are also being floated as a top contender to snare Cherry-Evans because he grew up around the Redcliffe area and played junior footy there. Cherry-Evans' father Troy played for the Dolphins in the Brisbane Rugby League comp.
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader is known to be interested in pursuing the 2013 Clive Churchill Medallist, but insisted on Tuesday he would not rush an offer. "The facts here are that we are very happy with the players we have signed moving into 2026," Reader told AAP.
"This is the NRL and part of your job is to explore interest from good players. But in this case, that is not an issue now as the player himself said he wants to take some time to gauge what he wants to do."
Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti said he'd love to play with the Manly champion and predicted he'd take young halfback Isaiya Katoa to the next level. "I'd love to play with him," he said. "He hasn't lost his step. He's got so much time, he's silky with the ball, but I (like) his leadership and talk.
"You see him talk off the field and that's the way he talks on the field. I hear him barking orders. If he's here, it's amazing, and if he's not we've got young upcoming halves that'll do the job."
The Bulldogs are also believed to be in play for Cherry-Evans after they tried to sign Ben Hunt in the off-season. Canterbury are yet to sign halfback Toby Sexton beyond this season.
And the Gold Coast Titans could also loom as a dark horse given Cherry-Evans' close bond with Des Hasler. DCE and Hasler won a premiership together in 2011, and Hasler was in attendance when Cherry-Evans got married in the off-season.
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