Cherry-Evans joins Gus Worland in championing 'mental fitness' ahead of Gotcha4Life Cup

Daly Cherry-Evans has reminded Australians of the importance of speaking up after revealing he turned to a therapist during one of the most difficult chapters of his career, ahead of Thursday night's Gotcha4Life Cup between Manly and the Sydney Roosters at 4 Pines Park.

The veteran five-eighth spent much of 2025 in the headlines after announcing his departure from Manly, attracting heavy criticism from fans and sections of the media throughout the process. Rather than go it alone, he sought professional support and is now using his first return to Brookvale as a visiting player to encourage others to do the same.

"Last year I went and got some help with a therapist," Cherry-Evans said.

"It was one of the best things I ever did, just not even to talk about footy, not even to talk about the stuff that I was going through in the media last year, but to talk about my childhood and things that I couldn't make sense of growing up."

"I can't recommend enough finding people to talk to, whether it's within your own group of friends, your family, or going and finding professional help. I've used all of the above at different stages. It definitely does help you when you get something off your chest. It just lightens the load."

The revelations come days out from Cherry-Evans' return to 4 Pines Park where the Roosters will play Manly for the Gotcha4Life Cup. Now in its fifth year, the Cup unites two teams to champion a powerful cause: building mental fitness so no one worries alone.

Manly sponsor Shaw and Partners will donate $100,000 to Gotcha4Life, with match-worn jerseys from both clubs to be auctioned after the game.

Gotcha4Life founder Gus Worland said the numbers behind the initiative were a sobering reminder of why the work had to continue.

"I want it to be called mental fitness he said, not mental health," he said.

"We're losing nine people a day and someone attempts to take their life every eight minutes.

"We've got to put a line in the sand and this game gives us some funds to do that."

Worland singled out Cherry-Evans as central to what the foundation was trying to achieve, having watched the halfback speak openly in school assemblies in front of young people who idolised him.

"When he gets vulnerable, they realise it's OK to be a human being," Worland said.

Manly skipper Tom Trbojevic said conversations around mental health within the game had shifted significantly and that clubs now had the resources to back up the rhetoric.

"It's become more normal to talk about," he said.

"That's the space we need to be in. Rugby league is a privilege but it's a hard game and you can't shy away from that. We're not alone. There are a lot of people here to support you, especially at this great club."

The Roosters have won all four previous editions of the cup as DCE and the Roosters head to Brookvale looking to make it five from five.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.