LEEDS, Warrington, St Helens and Wigan are on red alert now that Kangaroos starlet Daly Cherry-Evans is refusing to sign a new contract with Manly.

Scrum-half Cherry—Evans, 23, wants to be released from the last 12 months of his deal because of a low salary scale that will see him earn 'only' £84,000 next year.

Before the 2011 Four Nations, Cherry-Evans was approached to play for England via his parental qualification, and the Super League big boys are sure to be interested.

But he would be looking for around £150,000-plus a season.

No chance!

Could you elaborate!

He's a fantastic player and would be a major signing for most NRL squads. Given how early in the year this has happened, all it will likely do is create a bidding war amongst the NRL clubs for his signature. Remember that the NRL salary cap is being increased because of their TV deal, so it's not like Super League is going to be his most lucrative destination.

The only chance is a short term deal, possibly to the end of this season if his Manly deal is terminated.

But you can also take Saints out of that as we're not ambitious enough to pull off a signing like this anymore.

Wigan certainly have the salary cap money available (Tommy L., Finch, Roberts, Carmont and Fielden all off contract, and a half back is probably a priority signing). realistically I don't see a top Australian player giving up his Aus, S.O.O. jersey to come over here, even if it is to come to the most famous RL club in the world.

I wouldn't be surprised if Saints had the cap space available either. It doesn't seem as though we've replaced like-for-like wage wise over the last couple of seasons, and there's a strong possibility that Wellens's wage will be off the spreadsheet next season.

Probably immaterial, though. Good half-backs are in pretty short supply the world over at the moment, and there will be a lot of rich NRL clubs calling. As Rogues points out, it would also mean passing on representative honours, for a time at least, which he is unlikely to be willing to do.

We dont have the quota space more like and can't.

I forgot about that - yes, you're right.

If Cherry Evans could play for England, are we sure he'd occupy any quota space?

£150,000? Are you ing mental?

I heard last week that McGuire had already made an approach from Souths. If he's going anywhere, the Russell Crowe factor will decide it.

If he couldn't get a uk passport he would, he'd be non fed anyway.

His agent said he deserves and will be looking for a bigger deal than Sandow and then quoted his $550,000.