Daly Cherry-Evans' emotional return to Manly-Warringah at Brookvale Oval for the Roosters in 2026 NRL season opener
Consensus Summary
Daly Cherry-Evans made his highly anticipated return to Brookvale Oval for the Roosters in the opening game of the 2026 NRL season, marking the first time he faced his former club in 15 years and after 352 appearances. Despite a storm disrupting the match with lightning, thunder, and flash flooding, the game proceeded with Manly losing 33-16 to the Roosters. Cherry-Evans, now a Rooster, was met with boos from Manly fans throughout the match, including chants like 'Cherry's a wanker,' reflecting the emotional weight of his departure. His performance was steady and controlled, completing all 22 passes attempted and playing to his strengths despite the challenging conditions. The game highlighted Manlyâs struggles, particularly in territory and forward pack performance, with just three tackles in the Roostersâ half after 30 minutes. Cherry-Evansâ return served as a poignant moment, symbolizing both the clubâs uncertain future and the personal journey of a former leader now playing for their rivals. The match also underscored Manlyâs early-season woes, starting 0-3 with all losses at home, while Cherry-Evans left with bragging rights and a display that showed his continued skill despite the emotional context.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Daly Cherry-Evans made his first appearance for the Roosters at Brookvale Oval after leaving Manly-Warringah in the off-season
- The match took place on the opening day of the 2026 NRL season with Manly losing 33-16 to the Roosters
- A severe storm with lightning, thunder, and flash flooding hit Brookvale Oval an hour before kick-off, causing power cuts and disrupting the game
- Cherry-Evans was booed by Manly fans during warm-ups, team introductions, and throughout the game, including the chant 'Cherry's a wanker'
- Manly's forward pack struggled with territory, recording just three tackles in the Roosters' half after 30 minutes despite two long-range tries
- Cherry-Evans played a controlled, steady game for the Roosters, completing 22/22 passes in appalling conditions
- Manly's longest-serving player Jake Trbojevic had only eight runs for 70 metres across three games leading up to this match
- The game was played at Brookvale Oval, Manly's home ground, with the Roosters winning 33-16
- Cherry-Evans left Manly-Warringah after 352 appearances and 15 years at the club
- Manly started the 2026 season with a 0-3 record, all losses at Brookvale Oval
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Cherry-Evans was described as 'the newly minted Rooster' in the lead-up quotes
- The crowd's frustration turned inward with 'Seibold out' chants ringing through the main stand with 10 minutes remaining
- Cherry-Evans was described as 'sitting behind the Manly bench by himself and staring out into the night' post-game
- Cherry-Evans' combination with Siua Wong was specifically highlighted as 'one to watch in the weeks to come'
- The article mentions 'the pantomime quality to much of the crowd's treatment of Cherry-Evans'
- Cherry-Evans' missed tackles under heavy pressure from Manly were noted as 'a couple'
- The article references 'the blood between Cherry-Evans and Manly doesn't have to be bad for it to mean something'
- The article describes Cherry-Evans' performance as 'tight and controlled, with Cherry-Evans playing to his strengths and doing what he could to hide his weaknesses'
- The article notes that 'the rest of the forward pack struggled mightily to dent the Roosters defence, although Taniela Paseka did what he could'
- The article mentions 'the team that runs out [to Manly's next game] could bear little resemblance to one that took on their former leader'
- No additional unique factual details beyond those in Article 1; identical text in many sections
- Live blog details Tolu Koula's try as 'one of the best tries you'll ever see' with specific play-by-play descriptions
- A high shot from Luke Brooks was initially misattributed to Jake Simpkin in the live blog
- The live blog notes 'Conor Watson got the ball off an error by Manly, Corey Waddell just lost it in the tackle - perhaps a strip?'
- The live blog describes an 'outrageous offload' from Mark Nawaqanitawase that was 'barely picked up by the commentators'
- The live blog highlights a 'knock on' during a Trbojevic pass to Luke Brooks
- The live blog notes Sam Walker was forced off the field with a 'head clash' described as 'friendly fire'
- The live blog details a 'set restart' where the Sea Eagles got over halfway for the first time since the opening set
- The live blog describes a 'clear pushing motion' by Lehi Hopoate on Billy Smith that led to a six-meter call
- The live blog notes the Roosters had 49 tackles in Manly's half and the Sea Eagles had just nine in the Roosters' half after 40 minutes
- The live blog mentions the Roosters had 15 players to choose from, with Billy Smith off and Hugo Savala on in the centres
- The live blog notes Egan Butcher failed his HIA earlier in the contest
- The live blog describes a 'bouncing ball' not dealt with from a kick that led to a six-meter call for the Roosters
- The live blog notes the Roosters had 73% of the territory in the game
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 and 2 state Cherry-Evans was booed 'throughout the first half' but Article 3's live blog does not explicitly confirm this for the entire first half, only mentioning it at the start and during specific moments
- Article 1 and 2 mention Cherry-Evans had 'two runs' in the first half but Article 3's live blog does not provide a specific tally of his runs
- Article 1 and 2 state Cherry-Evans completed 22/22 passes but Article 3's live blog does not explicitly state this exact statistic, only noting his steady play
- Article 1 and 2 mention Cherry-Evans' combination with Siua Wong as a highlight but Article 3 does not reference this specific pairing
- Article 1 and 2 describe Cherry-Evans' post-game moment as sitting alone behind the Manly bench, while Article 3 does not provide this specific detail
Source Articles
DCE's return to Brookvale was a reminder of Manlyâs past amid an uncertain future
As Manly's season teeters on the edge, the Sea Eagles faithful welcomed former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans to Brookvale Oval in enemy colours for the first time but it was the prodigal son who won the d...
Cherry-Evans's return to Brookvale a reminder of Manly's past amid an uncertain future
With Manly's season teetering on the edge, the Sea Eagles faithful welcomed former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans to Brookvale Oval in enemy colours for the first time. But it was the prodigal son who won ...
Live: Cherry-Evans booed on return to Brookvale as Koula scores stunner
Daly Cherry Evans makes his first appearance at Brookvale since his off-season switch from the Sea Eagles to the Roosters, with both teams looking for a win to kick-start their 2026 NRL season. Follow...