Origin at 40? DCE urged to take pay cut to play on

Daly Cherry-Evans has been urged by rugby league greats Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer to take a significant pay cut to prolong his career at Manly, with Queensland selector Lockyer declaring that his Maroons jersey was his to lose until he retired.

The discussion around Cherry-Evans' future has ramped up after he broke Cliff Lyons' Sea Eagles appearances record in a stirring win against Penrith last Saturday, with reports claiming the club is interested in extending his stay at Brookvale beyond his 37th birthday.

Now 35, Cherry-Evans is one of the highest paid players in the game, on a deal believed to be worth about $1.2 million-a-season, which is due to expire next year.

READ MORE: Team sent 'aggressive' legal threat to driver

EXCLUSIVE: Astonishing story behind weightlifter's Aussie defection

READ MORE: The rugby players who can seriously golf

However, Lockyer and Johns said that if Cherry-Evans was to play on in 2026 and beyond he needed to acknowledge that he was coming to the end of his career and "take a haircut".

"He's a pro, he's a professional Daly," Johns said on Wide World of Sports Immortal Behaviour.

"I would be signing him up a year at time. Just keep signing him for a year because at the end of next year, he will be 37.

"I have no doubt in the world that Daly when he starts negotiating will take a haircut... and I have no doubt that Daly will be the one saying I'll take a haircut, let's keep this team together.

"Daly is mature enough to know how the salary cap works and he will take a haircut. I have no doubt in the world.

"He has to be a one-club player. He should not play for another club."

After signing a monster eight year deal for $10 million to keep him out of the Titans' clutches, Cherry-Evans inked a further two-year deal in 2022, which maintained his salary among the very elite in the game.

However, Queensland great Darren Lockyer said it was unlikely either he or the club would consider maintaining him in the million-dollar bracket if he decides to continue.

Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

"I don't think you would pay him a million. It generally happens at the back end of your career, you start to take a little bit less," Lockyer told Wide World of Sports QLDER.

"I genuinely think if he wants to keep playing... he's not doing it for the money.

"I think he's just doing it because he wants to keep competing and helping the club. But I don't think being on the same money he's on now is going to be critical to keeping him there.

"You've got to be diligent with your salary cap and I don't think Daly would be chasing north of a million beyond his 35th birthday."

The star No.7 won a premiership with Manly in 2011 and has represented Queensland 22 times and Australia 21 times.

Cherry-Evans is the oldest player on the current Maroons team but Lockyer said the skpper still has what it takes to retain the No.7 jersey in the coming seasons, adding he must remain in top form to block the rise of the next generation.

"I think it will depend on who's behind him. You've got Tommy Dearden and Sam Walker maybe," Lockyer said.

"I think if he's still keen to play at that level and he's still playing at the club… he will retain his spot."

Both league legends noted that the Manly halfback has not lost his physical ability in recent years, with the star playing his 310th NRL game against the Panthers in round five.

"He could play for another three years because he hasn't lost his speed," said Johns.

"He is one of the players who has got to 30 and played better.

"There have been no major injuries touch wood he doesn't get any knees or shoulders.... the body is sound. It's just up to him if he wants to keep fresh."

Lockyer added: "They are so hard to find, these game-managing halves with experience.

"If you don't have one coming through your system, why would you let him go? Unless he has a deep desire to retire.

"Cameron Smith played until 37, 38 years old... (Cherry-Evans) major role is just giving the team direction out there.

"If he still wants to play... I think it would be good for the club to keep him on."