Daly Cherry-Evans doubts he can reach rugby league's coveted 400-game milestone as the evergreen Manly skipper forecasts a "wait-and-see" approach to his NRL playing future.
Cherry-Evans will be 36 when the 2025 season kicks off but has shown no signs of slowing down, hoisting seventh-placed Manly to within striking distance of a finals berth with another brilliant campaign.
The halfback has previously flagged confidence in his ability to continue playing, declaring himself a certainty to turn out for Manly next year.
But adding a layer of intrigue to his future, Cherry-Evans will be off contract at the end of next season and therefore free to negotiate with rival clubs for 2026 come November.
It will mark Cherry-Evans' first time on the open market since his infamous backflip on Gold Coast in 2015, having topped up his eight-year Manly deal with a two-year extension in 2022.
But the future, whether at the Sea Eagles or elsewhere, has not been on Cherry-Evans' radar during the run to finals.
"I haven't thought too much about it, to be honest," he said.
"We'll worry about November 1 when we get to it but there's a lot that would have to happen before I got to that situation (negotiating with rival clubs).
"I'm 35, turning 36 next year, so I don't know how appealing it would be to go and chase an older halfback.
"But I still feel really good. I still feel like there's a lot of footy left in me. I won't be putting a time limit on it.
"If I just enjoy and focus on each season as if it was the last, I know I'll be maximising myself and hopefully bringing the best out of my teammates."
Cherry-Evans' career has already made history with its longevity, the Queenslander overtaking legendary five-eighth Cliff Lyons as Manly's most-capped player earlier this season.
His mostly injury-free career and uptick in form over recent seasons has made Cherry-Evans a popular suggestion as the next player to reach 400 games.
Currently, only Melbourne legend Cameron Smith has brought up a quadruple century of first-grade rugby league games in Australia.
Cherry-Evans will make his 323rd first-grade appearance when Manly face Canberra this Saturday and would likely need to play until 2027 to reach 400.
"A lot would have to go right for me to play 400 games," Cherry-Evans said.
"It's funny, when I hit the milestone this year with the 300 games and then 310 at the club, it actually reminded me how much I'm not actually playing for that.
"I'm trying to have the best career that Daly Cherry-Evans can have and I think if I have that mentality, it'll keep me really focused on what I can control.
"Hopefully with that comes more success."
