Is DCE leaving the NRL too early?

With Daly Cherry-Evans once again starring on the Allianz Stadium field at the age of 37, could he be leaving the NRL too early?

The Tricolours made the final four on Saturday night, defeating Cronulla 46-10 in a comprehensive second-half performance at Allianz Stadium.

This sees Sydney into their fifth preliminary final since 2017, marking their perennial success within the modern era.

Instrumental to their win was Cherry-Evans.

The veteran halfback continued to show why the Roosters were so keen to bring him across from Manly, with the 37-year-old managing a try in the first half alongside assisting three of the Roosters’ eight tries in the semi-final clash.

The former Queensland captain has already confirmed that 2026 is his last season in the NRL, having signed a one-year deal with Super League side Hull FC.

But following his performance, Jimmy Smith is convinced DCE could still be successful in Australia going into 2028.

“I'm looking at him, and I'm going try, three try assists, no suspension,” Smith explained on SEN’s Crunch Time NRL.

“And then I'm like, he's going to Hull. Why are you going to Hull?

“You still got good footy left in you, 37-year-old Daly Cherry-Evans.”

Cherry-Evans’ former teammate Justin Horo agreed, believing the 377-game player could slot into the majority of halves combos within the top six.

"It's very hard for a player of his calibre and a big club like the Roosters at the back end of the year to keep news to yourself,” Horo said.

“My initial response was congratulations, mate, how good.

“But I was like, ‘You've still got it’.

“Take bias out of it. He would be my preferred option (at halfback) for four out of the top six teams.”

Having only been fined by the judiciary for his dangerous trip on Wilton Teig, Cherry-Evans will play against the Dolphins on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.

SEN League will have live coverage of the match across its radio network and on the SEN app from 7pm AEST, with the match kicking off at 7:50pm.

Whoever wins will face Penrith or the winner between the Warriors/Knights in this year’s Grand Final at Accor Stadium on October 4.