The real reason the Roosters brought DCE to Bondi

Last year, Sydney Roosters powerbrokers started to worry about their champion captain James Tedesco.

Not about his form, his age or whether the end was nigh. They were concerned he might finish his career with “just” two NRL premierships, and whether that was enough for a man who had done everything in rugby league and so much for the Tricolours.

Tedesco and Cooper Cronk arrived from Wests Tigers and Melbourne respectively, and helped the Roosters to premiership glory in 2018 and 2019.

Cronk will never have to buy a chai latte in the eastern suburbs again. When Tedesco eventually retires, which may not be at the end of next season, he will go down as an even more significant figure for the club.

Tedesco will bring up a decade at the Roosters next year. He became captain, won the Dally M Medal twice, led NSW to an Origin series win and Australia to a World Cup victory, and has been one of the constants for the Tricolours in recent years when millions of dollars worth of talent and experience have retired, switched clubs or codes.

Which takes us back to that meeting with a few influential people at the club who realised time was no longer on their side, and they needed to take action to help “Teddy” reach rugby league’s promised land at least one more time.

Enter Daly Cherry-Evans.

Cherry-Evans was suddenly available because he could not strike a fresh deal with Manly. Not only did the Queensland and Kangaroos halfback have big-game experience, and could help develop Roosters No.7 Sam Walker, but he was viewed as the man who could make life easier for Tedesco.

Having rising star Walker and a calm head like Cherry-Evans pulling the strings would allow Tedesco to take more of a back seat and play his natural game.

But the main motivation for signing Cherry-Evans was to help Tedesco win a third title that club heavyweights believe he so richly deserves. That is how highly regarded Tedesco is in the east.

“What did you first think when ‘Chez’ signed?” Tedesco asked this masthead during the week.

We quickly pointed out an opinion piece that was published supporting the signing, which appeared under the headline: Daly Cherry-Evans is officially a Rooster. Good luck stopping them winning the comp in 2026.

“We had Sammy [Walker] here, but the experience Chez brings in big games, his knowledge, his leadership … Sammy has learnt so much from him, so [Cherry-Evans] hasn’t just set us up for now, he’s set us up for the future,” Tedesco said.

“I’ve been blown away by how well his body is for a 37-year-old. He doesn’t miss a session or a game; he still does extras.

“Sometimes you get to the age he is and you limp through. But he’s not doing that at all.

“He’s a gentle soul – he didn’t want to rub anyone the wrong way – but through the Origin period, and after that, his leadership came to the fore, and he’s taken control, which is why we got him here.

“He doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but I’ve encouraged him to talk whenever. I told him they don’t need to hear my voice all the time, and your knowledge is very valuable. He’s been awesome.”

Cherry-Evans spent 15 seasons at Manly, and still lives on the northern beaches. The locals have wished him all the best this week, even though he is not wearing maroon and white.

The veteran playmaker says he did not need long to realise what Tedesco meant to the Roosters.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play alongside Teddy before – I certainly knew the player he was, and had a really good idea about the leader he was, and that’s only been amplified spending more time with him on a week-to-week basis,” Cherry-Evans said.

“He’s a fantastic player, a great leader and he’s become a really good friend during it all.

“I’ll definitely be playing for my skipper this weekend.”

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