Daly Cherry-Evans' return to Manly-Warringah at Brookvale Oval for Roosters vs Sea Eagles match
Consensus Summary
Daly Cherry-Evans returned to Brookvale Oval for the first time as a Rooster, facing his former Manly-Warringah club in the opening match of the 2026 NRL season. The game was marred by heavy rain and lightning, with power cuts affecting parts of the stadium, yet fans still turned out in force. Cherry-Evans, a 37-year-old legend with 352 appearances for Manly, was met with boos from the crowd throughout the match, reflecting the emotional divide of his departure. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Cherry-Evans played a controlled game, helping the Roosters secure a 33-16 victory. Manly struggled offensively, with their forward pack failing to capitalize on long-range scoring opportunities, and fans directed their frustration inward, targeting coach Anthony Seibold with chants. Cherry-Evans' return highlighted Manlyâs uncertain future, with their 0-3 start to the season raising concerns about their ability to compete. The match also underscored the Roostersâ potential, with Cherry-Evansâ steady play and the emergence of players like Tolu Koula, who scored a spectacular try. While Cherry-Evans left Manly with mixed emotions, his performance for the Roosters suggested he could be a valuable asset in his new role.
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 weekend of the 2026 NRL season with Manly losing 33-16 to the Roosters
- Cherry-Evans was booed by Manly fans during warm-ups, team introductions, and throughout the game
- Manly started the season with a 0-3 record, with all three losses occurring at Brookvale Oval
- Cherry-Evans played 352 games for Manly-Warringah over 15 years before his departure
- The game was played in heavy rain and lightning, with power cuts affecting parts of Brookvale Oval
- Cherry-Evans scored no tries but played a controlled, steady game for the Roosters
- Manly's forward pack struggled to score, with Tom Trbojevic and Tolu Koula scoring two long-range tries each
- Jake Trbojevic had just eight runs for 70 metres across three games before this match
- Manly coach Anthony Seibold faced 'Seibold out' chants from fans during the match
- Cherry-Evans was the longest-serving player for Manly-Warringah until Jake Trbojevic surpassed his record
- The match was played despite a storm causing flash flooding and power outages an hour before kick-off
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Cherry-Evans was described as playing 'tight and controlled,' hiding his weaknesses and playing to his strengths
- Cherry-Evans' combination with Siua Wong was highlighted as a potential future focus for the Roosters
- The crowd's frustration turned inward with 'Seibold out' chants starting with 10 minutes remaining
- Cherry-Evans was described as 'at the heart of the game' but not creating a 'headline moment'
- The article mentions 'pantomime quality' to much of the crowd's treatment of Cherry-Evans, often devolving to laughter
- Cherry-Evans was described as 'sitting behind the Manly bench by himself and staring out into the night' post-game
- The article notes that Cherry-Evans' departure has 'made some changes possible' for Manly, suggesting a shift in the team dynamic
- No additional source-specific details beyond those in Article 1; identical content
- Live blog details Koula's try as a 'stunning first 40 minutes' effort, describing it as 'one of the best tries you'll ever see'
- The live blog highlights a 'neat slide' by Jake Trbojevic to save a short kick from Sam Walker in the first half
- The article notes a 'remarkable' offload by Mark Nawaqanitawase in the first half, barely picked up by commentators
- The live blog describes Cherry-Evans' pass to Robert Toia as 'lovely footwork' and a 'step on Luke Brooks'
- The article mentions a 'knock on' during a Trbojevic pass to Luke Brooks, leading to a Roosters recovery
- The live blog details a 'clear pushing motion' by Lehi Hopoate on Billy Smith, leading to a disallowed try for the Roosters
- The article notes the Roosters had 15 players to choose from, with Billy Smith and Egan Butcher unavailable
- The live blog highlights the Roosters' 73% territory share in the first half despite Manly's early scoring
- The article describes Cherry-Evans' kicking accuracy as '100% completion rate of 22/22' despite wet conditions
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 and 2 describe Cherry-Evans' performance as 'tight and controlled' with no headline moment, while Article 3's live blog emphasizes Koula's 'stunning try' and Cherry-Evans' '100% completion rate' as key highlights
- Article 1 and 2 mention Cherry-Evans was 'booed in the warm-up, during the team introductions and as he ran on the field,' but do not specify the exact timing or intensity of the booing beyond the first half
- Article 3's live blog does not mention the 'pantomime quality' or laughter described in Articles 1 and 2 regarding the crowd's treatment of Cherry-Evans
- Articles 1 and 2 state that Cherry-Evans had 'just two runs in 46 minutes' and 'eight runs for 70 metres across three games,' but do not specify the exact timeframe for the 'two runs' claim
- Article 3's live blog does not mention the 'Seibold out' chants or the crowd's frustration turning inward, focusing instead on the game's tactical and scoring details
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...