Daly Cherry-Evans makes NRL retirement revelation after startling call from Andrew Johns

Manly veteran Daly Cherry-Evans has admitted he would be comfortable if his career ended with his current contract, as the Sea Eagles captain prepares to enter his eighth finals series on Sunday against Canterbury. The Manly halfback is contracted until the end of 2025, but there is currently no deal on the table beyond next year.

Cherry-Evans is currently in pursuit of a second NRL premiership at the Sea Eagles after his first came as a rookie in 2011. But win or lose, big decisions are ahead for the Queensland State of Origin captain.

The 35-year-old is off contract at the end of 2025 and can be approached by rival clubs from November 1 this year. He signed a 'lifetime' eight-year deal at Manly in 2015 and then extended it further in 2022 to become one of the highest-paid halfbacks in the game.

However, his future beyond next year isn't clear despite stating that he would like to play on for at least a few more seasons. The playmaker will be 37 by the time the 2026 season rolls around, an age that many of the NRL greats before him had already called time on their careers.

Cooper Cronk decided to hang up the boots at 35, while Andrew Johns announced his NRL retirement at 32. Johnathan Thurston pulled the pin at 35 and Darren Lockyer at 34, showing the incredible longevity of Manly's most-capped player. And Cherry-Evans said he will sort out his NRL future in the off-season but ideally wants to play on for a few more years.

"It's something I haven't even stopped for a second to think about," Cherry-Evans told AAP. "As the captain and being a bit older, my priorities are leading with the actions and making sure our focus is where it needs to be. And that's finals footy.

"We're in an off-season in four weeks and it will all get sorted then. But at the moment I don't think there would be any rush to get anything done. If it all had to end next year for me I would be extremely grateful for the journey. I don't think it will all end next year, but it's just not something I have been worried about."

Andrew Johns says Cherry-Evans can break NRL games record

If Cherry-Evans is to play on as suggested, Andrew Johns believes he could realistically break Cameron Smith's all-time NRL games record. Johns says the Manly halfback could play until age 40, which could see him play more NRL games than anyone in history.

"He’s still got his speed. He’s getting better," Johns said on Channel 9 earlier this season. "He has to play for another two or three years. He may play until he’s 40."

Smith currently holds the record with a whopping 430 NRL games. Cherry-Evans currently sits at 327 matches, meaning he would need to play at least another four seasons injury-free to surpass Smith's mark. But even if he does play on beyond next year, Manly faces a tricky situation with his contract.

The Sea Eagles this year opted against re-signing young halfback Jamie Humphreys, but have locked in teen prodigy Joey Walsh, who is viewed as Cherry-Evans' successor. Cherry-Evans' status in the game also means his approximate $1 million salary is far greater than others his age and any decisions would likely need to be made well in advance for salary cap management. And the Sea Eagles great knows that the club may ultimately decide against offering him an extension.

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"Manly have an obligation to keep the club first and if it's in their best interests to keep me then they will keep me," Cherry-Evans said. "We'll cross that bridge if it even gets to it ... contracts work themselves out eventually, so I am not too worried about it."

And while it would seem inconceivable Cherry-Evans will finish his career away from Manly, the reality is he could attract big-money offers elsewhere if still unsigned on November 1. The Dolphins in particular could loom as a potential destination for the halfback if he was to move clubs. Cherry-Evans grew up in Redcliffe and could seek a return home, although it is likely he would be reluctant to move away from the northern beaches with his family set up in the area.

with AAP