Sandon Smith is reportedly being shopped to rival clubs by his agent in a key sign that Daly Cherry-Evans will end up at the Sydney Roosters. Cherry-Evans is leaving Manly at the end of the season, and rumors are rife that he’s bound for Bondi.
The Roosters have already parted ways with Terrell May, Dom Young, and Brandon Smith and have also told veteran hooker Zach Dockar-Clay he’s free to seek a deal with a rival club. And on Wednesday, leading reporter James Hooper claimed Sandon Smith’s agent is also shopping him to other clubs.
Hooper wrote for Fox Sports, “The Chooks are cleaning house for when the Cherry-Evans deal is eventually rubber-stamped and announced.”
Sandon Smith has been somewhat of a revelation for the Roosters this year and enjoyed the best game of his young career against the Dragons on Anzac Day. The five-eighth scored two tries and had a try assist as the Roosters walloped the Dragons 46-18.
Many experts tipped the Tricolours to be running near the bottom of the ladder in the early part of the season. But the form of Smith and a number of other unsung heroes has seen them start the year with a respectable 4-5 record to be 11th heading into Round 10.
Daly Cherry-Evans’s move could force Sandon Smith out.
But if Cherry-Evans is heading to the Roosters in 2026, it leaves little room for Smith to remain in first grade. Halfback Sam Walker is due back from an ACL injury in just over a month and will likely partner Smith in the halves for the rest of the season.
But Cherry-Evans’ potential arrival would force Smith out, and his best option would be a bench-utility role. Reece Robson will be the Roosters’ hooker in 2026, meaning Connor Watson will likely playo. 13.
Smith is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2026 and reportedly rejected a contract extension at the start of 2025 worth $400,000 per season. The club has shown a willingness to allow players to move on early if they can secure their future elsewhere. If Smith can get a starting spot at a rival club, the Roosters would likely allow him to walk—just as they have done with May and Young.
However, it won’t go down well with Roosters fans, with many questioning why they’d allow a talented youngster to leave for only two years of Cherry-Evans. But with 23-year-old Hugo Savala on the books, he might be the succession plan.
Sam Walker would welcome Daly Cherry-Evans’ arrival.
Speaking in April, Roosters coach Trent Robinson insisted Smith had a future at the club. “It’s been pretty clear, our future with Sandon, and the conversations we’ve had with him over the years,” Robinson said of the 22-year-old.
“He’s our starting 6, and we’re going to keep developing him. There are some really good signs that we like. We’re just going to keep forging forward and keep backing him to develop his game.”
Cherry-Evans’ arrival would likely mean Walker moves from halfback to five-eighth, but he doesn’t see a problem with it. Walker said he would welcome DCE “with open arms” if the 36-year-old joins.
“He’s done it all in the game, and we’d love to have him at the Roosters, that’s for sure,” Walker told the Sydney Morning Herald. “You’d love to have someone of his caliber. I said the same thing when there was talk of Ben Hunt potentially coming here. Being a Queenslander and having spent time with him in Origin camp, the way he carries himself, he’s a professional. Daly would be welcomed here with open arms.”
