The Manly captain is widely expected to join the Roosters in a big-money move.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson says his stance has not changed on wanting to bring Daly Cherry-Evans to the club next season, despite the continued form of his young stars. Halves pair Hugo Savala and Sandon Smith were once again instrumental in the Roosters’ thumping 42-8 win over the Cowboys on Sunday that cemented their spot in the top eight.
The Roosters ran in five second-half tries to wrap up their biggest win of the season and jump into seventh on the NRL ladder. The only negatives were knee injuries to second-rower Siua Wong and Smith, who impressed again at five-eighth alongside Savala, with first-choice half Sam Walker still out with a fractured thumb.
Savala’s incredible tap-back set up one of the tries of the season for Mark Nawaqanitawase, and the No.7’s kicking game helped the Roosters control the contest. Savala’s halves partnership with Smith has been one of the stories of the season for Robinson’s side and the duo marshalled the side around superbly on Sunday, until the five-eighth left the game late on with injury.
But it was the latest stunning illustration that the young halves are bona fide NRL starters and have formed one of the league’s most promising combinations. It has also raised further questions about why the Roosters feel the need to sign Manly captain Cherry-Evans, who is widely expected to join the club next season on around $1 million per season.
There has been speculation that the Roosters might be considering backflipping on a reported handshake agreement to sign DCE next season, after he was axed from Queensland’s Origin side in the midst of an alarming form slump with Manly. But Robinson addressed the club’s interest in DCE before Sunday’s game and said the club’s stance had not changed on signing the veteran halfback.
Roosters’ stance has not changed on wanting to sign DCE
“Nothing has moved, we haven’t had any discussions or anything like that. But there hasn’t been any difference on what I said last time either,” the Roosters coach said. “We said he’s going to wait so we’ve just been getting on with our business until that time.”
Robinson insists he’s ignored the public commentary around DCE’s ailing form in 2025 and speculation his side were getting cold feet about bringing him to the club. “That hasn’t been a discussion for us,” he added. Savala and Smith’s latest displays on Sunday will only intensify the scrutiny around DCE, but Robinson says there’s no reason why the young halves, DCE and the sidelined Walker can’t all play in the same side.
Daly Cherry-Evans’ expected move to the Roosters leave the future of young halves star Sandon Smith clouded. Pic: Getty
Savala’s preferred position is in the halves but his 194cm frame makes him a candidate for opportunities in the back row or outside backs. While Smith was a regular on the bench before five-eighth Luke Keary left the club at the end of last season. Whether he would be happy about being relegated to a bench role again remains to be seen. Walker and DCE are expected to be Robinson’s first-choice halves in 2026, but the coach has plenty of options at his disposal.
“We’re in a good spot, I feel like we’re developing really well,” Robinson said. “We want to keep pushing forward in being the best team that we can be. There’s no wavering on what I said (about wanting to pursue Cherry-Evans) but that time will come.”
Emerging young forward Salesi Foketi also performed brilliantly at lock for the sidelined Victor Radley (concussion) and laid on a superb try for Lindsay Collins in the first half. Bench hooker Benaiah Ioelu also starred in his fourth NRL game, kicking twice in the lead-up to tries, while Billy Smith has benefited from a prolonged run without injury and scored a double, with rising middle forward Naufahu Whyte running for a whopping 173 metres to show the future is bright at the Chooks.
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