Jon Wilkin has labelled the signing of Daly Cherry-Evans by Hull FC as a ‘statement of intent’ and a signing whose presence alone can help turn the club around.
Cherry-Evans, 37, will join Hull FC for 2027 on a one-year deal that sees him become certainly one of the club’s biggest-ever signings in terms of stature, but also in Super League history.
He might not be in his prime but he’s a player with over 350 NRL games, nine years at international level, and a number of State of Origin appearances, and he is still making plays.
That was evident by his performance on Thursday morning, with Hull FC announcing his arrival mere hours later, as Cherry-Evans scored two tries to help the Roosters down the Panthers and move top of the NRL.
This isn’t simply a player who is past it trying to cash in, as is far too often the case in Super League. This is a player who may well win the Grand Final this year and still has lots to offer, certainly culturally, but also on the field too.
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Pundits assess Hull FC signing of Daly Cherry-Evans
Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin made that point when speaking on Thursday night just after confirmation of the signing, as he argued: “It’s a statement of intent from Hull FC.
“We’ve been critical of their 2026 campaign. It’s been a very difficult, turbulent year but this is a signing that can galvanise fans, excite fans and energise a club that needs energy.”
Wilkin also compared Cherry-Evans to Wigan Warriors’ Sean O’Loughlin, outlining the leadership trait that he will bring to a team who need assurances from someone that they can stay in the grind when the going gets tough.
He said: “It will give them confidence as well and they’re a side lacking confidence. You can sometimes get off by a players’ presence. You can look at Sean O’Loughlin and Wigan he would give his side confidence to win games and Cherry-Evans can do that.”
England international and Wigan star Harry Smith also added his praise, pointing to Cherry-Evans’ starring role against Penrith as a prime reason why the veteran is a great addition.
Smith said: “You’ve just seen it [this morning] scoring two tries against one of the best defensive teams in the NRL. He’s still got it and fair play to Hull FC, it’s a great signing.
“He’s just going to go in there and dominate field position for the team, control everyone around and get the threats of Will Pryce and people who want to run the ball off the back of him. He’s going to get you in the right position and give you the ball when you want it.”
John Andrews
August 17, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Yet again Wilkin talks utter Bollox as usual this has been going on with this tin pot club the last twenty years buying up so called NRL legends so that the fans can have the names on the back of their shirts that’s all, But all they have won is the Mickey Mouse Cup and reach the Grand Final once failing at that long may it continue! Ha Ha Ha