Wayne Bennett has ruled out South Sydney pursuing Daly Cherry-Evans, calling for trade windows to stop such issues acting as a “self-destruct button” on the NRL season.
With the Rabbitohs one of several clubs linked to the off-contract Cherry-Evans, Bennett on Wednesday distanced the Rabbitohs from any shot at Manly’s star halfback.
The Souths coach said his club could not fit Cherry-Evans under the salary cap, while negotiations are ongoing to re-sign veteran five-eighth Cody Walker.
The Rabbitohs’ lack of interest comes after St George Illawarra also indicated they would not chase Cherry-Evans on Wednesday.
The Dolphins are known to be keen on the 36-year-old, while the Roosters and Canterbury loom as likely options if Cherry-Evans wants to remain in Sydney.
Manly are desperate to change Cherry-Evans’s mind with a two-year deal worth $1.4 million, after the club’s most-capped player said 2025 would be his last season at Brookvale.
That would require a significant change of heart from Cherry-Evans, who said on national television earlier this week he would not accept the deal from Manly.
Bennett on Thursday predicted multiple clubs would shuffle their rosters to make a play for Cherry-Evans, but said Souths would not be one of them.
“We don’t have money in the salary cap,” Bennett said.
“If you haven’t got a halfback and you’re struggling a bit, of course a club will do whatever you can to get your hands on him. They don’t come up too often like this.
“I’m sure wherever Daly goes, he’ll be good for them as well.
“There’ll be some club that will need a halfback and probably pretty close to being the top team, but they just haven’t got the right player at halfback right now.
“He’s virtually injury-free. Plays good football every week, so he’s not ready for retirement, that’s one place he’s not going.”
Bennett would not be drawn into criticism on Manly’s handling of the situation, but warned the issue would be a distraction and not help the Sea Eagles’ season.
The veteran coach also claimed the issues went well beyond Manly, labelling it bad for the entire game.
Bennett has long been a proponent of trade windows, pointing to their success in the AFL and other sports overseas.
“This does nothing for the game. It does nothing for the club. It’s wrong and I wish we’d fix it,” Bennett said.
“You don’t see this in Aussie rules, they are our major competitor.
“We’ve hit the self-destruct button four weeks into a football season that’s already provided some great football.
“The whole focus is on what a couple of players or clubs have done. So, clubs have done whatever the case. It just shouldn’t happen. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”
AAP
