Daly Cherry-Evans kicked 28 field goals in 352 games for Manly during his career, many of them match-winners, before producing his final clutch performance in the Roosters' grand final victory. The move follows the recruitment pattern of marquee players like Cooper Cronk, whose 2018 switch to the Roosters similarly proved decisive.
In a column published across Nine newspapers, Malcolm Knox wrote that Cherry-Evans and fellow recruit Reece Robson made the difference for the Roosters. However, Knox noted that most of the rugby league community does not believe the Roosters were able to sign both players while remaining within the salary cap. 'The Roosters will just have to live with the fact that most of the rugby league community don't believe they, already premiership contenders, were able to recruit Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson and remain under the salary cap,' Knox wrote.
Knox suggested the club was unlikely to be troubled by the criticism, writing that the 'comfort' of a premiership trophy provides a 'high hill to crow from'. Cherry-Evans, who Knox said gave so much to Manly over 352 games, is set to continue his career in the UK Super League with Hull. The columnist described him as a significant loss for the NRL.