Former Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta says Daly Cherry-Evans’ form slump is “concerning” and has questioned whether tricolours should go ahead with signing him.
It’s been widely reported that Manly’s Cherry-Evans will join the Roosters on a one-year deal for 2026, and remain with the club in a coaching capacity in 2027.
It’s a deal that has yet to be confirmed.
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But Cherry-Evans has struggled in recent times, with the Sea Eagles losing their last three games on the trot, including a 28-12 defeat to the Raiders on Friday night.
By contrast, the Roosters are running hot, winning their last two games against the Sea Eagles and Dolphins, who they thrashed 64-12 on Saturday night.
Five-eighth Hugo Savala and halfback Sam Walker have guided the Roosters to those victories.
With Savala and Walker steering the ship nicely at the Roosters, and 36-year-old Cherry-Evans out of form at Manly, Anasta is wondering whether the likely signing of DCE is a worthwhile one for his former club.
“Walker and Savala, they were great on the weekend,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
“DCE was poor.
“The DCE issue, I know we’ve spoken about it a lot, but it’s getting bigger because his form is dropping by the game, and Savala was outstanding on the weekend.
“The Roosters have found form.
“It is a little bit concerning now. They’ve got him coming in for Savala, and Sandon (Smith) moving on, most likely.
“Every week that goes on, I start going, well, hang on.
“As the year’s gone on, his form’s dropped.
“Next year’s another year, another year older.”
Gorden Tallis seemed to agree with Anasta.
“Are they getting itchy feet, the Roosters? I’m going to keep on asking until it’s confirmed,” Tallis said.
“He’s played a lot of footy, right, and father time catches up with everybody, even up heartbreak hill.”
But Brent Read defended Cherry-Evans, believing that when push comes to shove, he’s still a “better player” than Savala.
“With due respect to Hugo Savala, Daly Cherry-Evans is a better player than him, right now at this point in their career,” Read said, rather bluntly.
“I know Hugo’s had a great year. Hugo’s going to be a really good footballer for a long time.”
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Phil Rothfield was also hesitant about Cherry-Evans’ potential switch to the Roosters.
“Walker’s got the best short kicking game in the comp, Hugo Savala’s got a long distance kick, they combine beautifully,” Rothfield added.
“The thing that worries me about DCE going to Easts, I know what a tight group they’ve got at the moment.
“I think it might upset the mechanism.”
