Former Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta says Daly Cherry-Evans\u2019 form slump is \u201cconcerning\u201d and has questioned whether tricolours should go ahead with signing him.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been widely reported that Manly\u2019s Cherry-Evans will join the Roosters on a one-year deal for 2026, and remain with the club in a coaching capacity in 2027.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a deal that has yet to be confirmed.<\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Five-eighth Hugo Savala and halfback Sam Walker have guided the Roosters to those victories.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWalker and Savala, they were great on the weekend,\u201d Anasta said on NRL 360.<\/p>\n \u201cDCE was poor.<\/p>\n \u201cThe DCE issue, I know we\u2019ve spoken about it a lot, but it\u2019s getting bigger because his form is dropping by the game, and Savala was outstanding on the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Roosters have found form.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a little bit concerning now. They\u2019ve got him coming in for Savala, and Sandon (Smith) moving on, most likely.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery week that goes on, I start going, well, hang on.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the year\u2019s gone on, his form\u2019s dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cNext year\u2019s another year, another year older.\u201d<\/p>\n Gorden Tallis seemed to agree with Anasta.<\/p>\n \u201cAre they getting itchy feet, the Roosters? I\u2019m going to keep on asking until it\u2019s confirmed,\u201d Tallis said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s played a lot of footy, right, and father time catches up with everybody, even up heartbreak hill.\u201d<\/p>\n But Brent Read defended Cherry-Evans, believing that when push comes to shove, he\u2019s still a \u201cbetter player\u201d than Savala.<\/p>\n \u201cWith due respect to Hugo Savala, Daly Cherry-Evans is a better player than him, right now at this point in their career,\u201d Read said, rather bluntly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know Hugo\u2019s had a great year. Hugo\u2019s going to be a really good footballer for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n TALKING POINTS: \u2018Huge risk\u2019 Broncos\u2019 move; \u2018ridiculous\u2019 Dogs act as hoax exposed<\/a><\/p>\n TEAM TIPS: Madge\u2019s solution to halves crisis; Ciraldo reveal after Dogs axing<\/a><\/p>\n