MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Daly Cherry-Evans could lead Sydney Roosters to NRL title and win the Dally M Medal

I’ve been counting the days until my column returned because I wanted to hit you between the eyes with perhaps my boldest – and most surprising – prediction yet.

So, with a deep breath, here I go.

The Sydney Roosters will play in the 2026 grand final on the back of Daly Cherry-Evans “doing a Cronk” and turning back the clock to thrive at his new club.

I’ll even go as far as to suggest DCE is a dark horse to win the Dally M as the best player in the competition.

There, I’ve said it.

Now, before you all get up off the floor and start questioning my sanity and asking if I had one too many Spuddwisers before writing this, I understand the scepticism.

Cherry-Evans is coming off a pretty ordinary last season at Manly and I was one of his biggest critics for the way he went about exiting Manly after 15 years.

You’ll also recall we exchanged words in the Brookvale Oval dressing-room on the back of what I wrote here and we won’t be going to any backyard barbies together anytime soon.

Cooper Cronk built the blueprint and delivered for the Tricolours a few years back and Daly now has a real chance to follow.

And that’s fine by me.

I stand by what I wrote at the time but I never said he wasn’t a good player or that he didn’t give the Sea Eagles tremendous value over 15 years.

That’s why I am able to separate the person from the footballer and see what Trent Robinson is up to in signing the 37-year-old.

The Roosters coach won’t want DCE running the whole show but needs him there as a calming influence and wise head.

Sam Walker will be in the driver’s seat and I can see Daly playing the support act, calling on all his years of experience to make the right calls at the right time to guide the Chooks around the park.

He will provide that little bit of extra polish they were missing last year.

Cooper Cronk built the blueprint and delivered for the Tricolours a few years back and Daly now has a real chance to follow.

So, if the Roosters are going to be in the grand final, they will obviously need an opponent.

It will come as little shock that I think Brisbane will be there again on the first Sunday in October, although I’d like to add an asterisk.

They need to show me something over the next month to fully convince me and I have outlined my reasons why deeper in this column.

Here’s a couple more tips while I’m on a roll.

The Dolphins will make the top four, Parramatta will play finals and Cronulla will miss the eight.

Why?

I love the way the Phins play with the ball and they just need to tighten their defence to really trouble the top sides.

I believe they can do that in 2026. If they do, put a few dollars on Kristian Woolf winning coach-of-the-year.

I don’t think the Eels are top four material but they won’t be far away.

I love how Jason Ryles is going about things and shaping the roster – and playing style - he wants.

Their last month of football in 2025 was super impressive and, with a fully fit and firing Mitchell Moses calling the shots, they will one of the big improvers.

As for the Sharks, they have played in the last two preliminary finals without advancing and their premiership window is closing fast.

They need a jemmy to prise it open but didn’t hit the open market in search of the X-factor player I believe they need to seriously challenge the big boys.

Further down the table, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pick Newcastle to collect back-to-back wooden spoons.

They’ve got some handy backs but look weak in the forwards….and we all know where games are won and lost.

While some of my predictions may have surprised you, the next one won’t.

NSW will win the State of Origin series 2-1 after winning games one (Sydney) and two (Melbourne).

Quite simply, the Blues’ forwards won’t be stood over thanks to the change in the eligibility rules.

Who’s going to intimidate Addin Fonua-Blake? No one.

Putting him together with Haas is like adding a match to gasoline – kaboom!

So, there you have it.

Bookmark this column and come at me if you disagree.

I dare ya.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

Complacency.

It’s the one word you don’t want to be associated with when you’re defending a title.

But that’s what came to mind as I watched a no-frills Hull KR out-think, out-muscle and out-last the Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge.

The six-point margin flattered the visitors.

They were never really in the fight.

Have the Broncos got the drive to be at their best every week after winning the club’s first comp in 19 years?

That’s what concerns me.

When you’re top dog, everyone wants to beat you and beat you up.

I can’t help but think the whole Haas affair has had an enormous impact despite the Broncos insisting life goes on and are comfortable with his move to Souths next year.

No one wants to see good players walk out but this bloke isn’t just good – he’s headed for greatness.

There can be a drop off in intensity after winning a premiership and Haas’s defection will have left them deflated, take my word for it.

They’re lucky to have Michael Maguire guide them through this premiership defence.

Few players get away with slacking off on Madge’s watch.