In a heartbreaking, earth‑shattering announcement that has sent shockwaves across the entire National Rugby League and beyond, Sydney Roosters superstar, elite playmaker, and club general Daly Cherry‑Evans has confirmed today he has officially finalized his divorce from his wife of less than two years, Vessa Rockliff Cherry‑Evans. In an emotional, raw, and devastating statement released across all his social media channels this morning, the 37‑year‑old rugby league legend laid bare the nightmare he has been living through in silence — and dropped the bombshell truth that has left everyone stunned and heartbroken: his wife, the woman he had been with for over fifteen years, the mother of his three beautiful daughters, his rock and his constant support through every high and every low of his incredible career, had been cheating on him for months. And the man she was sleeping with is none other than his current Sydney Roosters teammate, a fellow player, his closest friend at the club, and someone he trusted with his life.
For decades, Daly and Vessa were seen as the ultimate example of a solid, loyal, grounded, and perfect partnership — the kind everyone admired and looked up to. Daly, the tactical genius, the leader, the man who captained Manly for over a decade, won premierships, represented Queensland and Australia, and this year made the high‑profile move to the Sydney Roosters to chase one last title and cement his legacy as one of the greatest halfbacks to ever play the game. Vessa, his steady rock, his constant companion since they first met back in 2010, the woman who stood proudly by his side through every step — from early days, to Grand Final glory, to State of Origin battles, through contract drama, big moves, and every challenge in between. They waited eight years to get engaged, married in a beautiful, dream‑like ceremony in November 2024, built a stunning family home on the Northern Beaches, and raised three beloved daughters: Navi, Harvie, and Tully. They were private, elegant, devoted, and widely regarded as the perfect, stable, loving family at the heart of the game. Daly spoke about her constantly, calling her “my everything, my foundation, the reason I am where I am today”. He said she was the only person he could trust completely, the only one who truly knew him, and the one who kept him grounded through all the pressure and fame. To everyone, they were unbreakable — a couple built on trust, loyalty, and love that had lasted a lifetime.
Today, that perfect image has been completely destroyed.
In a long, deeply personal, and agonising message shared this morning, Cherry‑Evans spoke out for the first time, his words heavy with grief, pain, and total heartbreak as he confirmed the end of his marriage and the devastating betrayal that broke it.
“It is with a heart completely shattered, and with more pain than I ever thought possible, that I have to share this news with you all today,” Cherry‑Evans began, his voice quiet, sincere, and full of raw emotion. “After over fifteen wonderful years together — growing up together, building our life, our family, and everything we have side‑by‑side — and after less than two years of marriage… Vessa and I are officially divorced. It is final. It is done. I never, ever thought I would have to write these words, or go through something like this. I thought we would be together forever. I thought she was my soulmate, my best friend, the only person I could trust with absolutely everything. But I was wrong. And the truth I have to tell you is the hardest, most painful truth I have ever had to say: this marriage ended not because we grew apart, not because of distance, not because of work or pressure or the move to a new club. It ended because she betrayed me in the worst way a human being can betray another.”
He paused, his words slow and heavy, before revealing the shocking twist no one saw coming — the detail that has left everyone stunned, angry, and heartbroken.
“For months, behind my back, while I was training, while I was playing, while I was leading this team, while I was giving everything to the Roosters, to our family, and to our future… Vessa was sleeping with another man. She lied to me every single day. She looked me in the eye and told me she loved me. She kissed me, she held my hand, she spoke of our future, she smiled for our family and friends, she supported me publicly — all while she was betraying me. She was with someone else. She was hiding it. She was playing me for a fool. And the man she chose… the man she was with… is someone I know very well. Someone I play alongside here at the Roosters. Someone I have trained with, travelled with, celebrated with, and fought alongside for this jersey. Someone I brought close to me, someone I trusted, someone I call a friend and a teammate.”
Cherry‑Evans confirmed the man involved is a current regular in the Sydney Roosters first‑team squad — a name fans know and love, someone who has been part of the group all season, someone he has shared his thoughts, his plans, his life, and his family with. He said he trusted this man completely — enough to let him into his inner circle, enough to confide in him about everything, enough to treat him like a brother. He never suspected a thing, never had a doubt, never once imagined either of them could hurt him like this.
“I trusted him with everything,” Cherry‑Evans wrote, his message cracking with pain and disbelief. “I spoke to him every single day. I ate with him, travelled with him, laughed with him, spent time with him and his family. I told him everything about us — about Vessa, about our marriage, about our girls, about our life, about my hopes and fears. I thought he was loyal. I thought he was a good man. I thought he respected me, respected our work, respected our friendship, and respected what we had built together. But all this time, while I was giving everything to this club and to my family… he was betraying me. He was with her. She was with him. They were lying to me, hiding it, laughing behind my back, and destroying everything I had. They fooled everyone. They fooled me. And the pain I feel right now is unbearable — worse than any defeat, worse than any injury, worse than anything I have ever been through in my whole career or my whole life.”
He explained that doubts only began to surface recently, following strange changes in behaviour, secretive phone calls, deleted messages, and quiet rumours he tried desperately to ignore — because he refused to believe it could be true, refused to accept that the two people he loved and trusted most in the world could hurt him so badly. But when he finally found clear, undeniable proof and confronted them both face‑to‑face, there was no denial, no excuse, nothing but tears and silence.
“When I asked her, when I told her I knew, she didn’t even try to make up a story,” he said. “She just broke down and admitted everything. She told me how long it had been going on. She told me how much they cared for each other. She told me she didn’t know how to tell me. She told me she was sorry — but sorry doesn’t fix what they did. It doesn’t take back the lies. It doesn’t take back the betrayal. And the man I called my friend and teammate? He stood there, said nothing, and I realised every trust, every memory, every moment we shared… it was all a lie. The two people I loved and trusted most in the world destroyed me completely. They took everything I had and threw it away like it meant nothing.”
Cherry‑Evans confirmed he has moved out of the family home, has full custody of their three young daughters — his absolute world — has cut all contact with both Vessa and his former teammate, and is stepping away from all personal matters to focus only on his girls and his football — the only things keeping him going through this nightmare.
“My daughters are my life,” he said. “Nothing will ever change that. They are my strength, my joy, and my reason to keep going. I gave everything to this woman. I was loyal every single day for fifteen years. I was kind, I was loving, I was devoted. I worked hard for everything we had. I protected her, I provided for her, I loved her more than anything. And this is how I was repaid. I feel sick. I feel empty. I feel like I don’t know what is real anymore. But I know this: I have done nothing wrong. I loved them. I trusted them. I gave everything. And I will walk away with my head held high.”
He sent a powerful, clear message to every Sydney Roosters fan, reassuring them this will never change his commitment, his leadership, or his love for the club — and promising it will only make him stronger, tougher, and more determined.
*“To every single Roosters fan, everywhere: I know you will worry. You will ask: Will this affect him? Will he leave? Will he stop being the player we need? *The answer is NO. This club, this jersey, this team, this mission we are on to win a premiership together… it is my everything right now. It is my focus, my escape, my purpose. I came here to win, I came here to lead, and nothing — absolutely nothing — will ever stop me giving 100% for this club, for my teammates, and for you. I am here. I am staying. I am more determined than ever to make you proud, to win that title, and to lead this team where we all want to go. You stood by me, and now I stand by you — stronger than ever before.”
The news has sent shockwaves across Sydney, the NRL, and the whole country. Roosters fans are absolutely heartbroken and furious — they adore Cherry‑Evans, they know exactly what kind of man he is, and they are rallying around him in huge numbers. Social media has exploded, with #WeLoveYouDCE, #CherryEvansOurHero, and #RoostersFamily trending number one nationwide. Thousands of messages of love, support, and anger have poured in from fans, players from every club, former teammates, Queensland and Australia colleagues, coaches, celebrities, and everyone who admires his honesty, class, and dignity.
Vessa Rockliff Cherry‑Evans has deleted all her social media accounts, has vanished from public view, and has made no comment. The Roosters player involved was absent from training today, has been suspended immediately pending a full investigation, and faces having his contract torn up, being ostracised from the club, and hated forever by the entire Roosters family and rugby league community.
Sydney Roosters released an urgent, emotional statement this afternoon, calling the situation “unimaginably tragic, painful and shocking”, confirming they stand 100% behind Daly Cherry‑Evans, and saying he remains their star, their leader, their greatest recruit in years, and their priority above all else.
“Daly Cherry‑Evans is not just our player — he is the heart and soul of what we are building here,” the statement read. “He is a leader, a gentleman, and a man of absolute character. What has happened to him is cruel, unforgivable and heartbreaking. We are with him every step of the way. Nothing will ever change what he means to us, or how much we love and respect him.”
For Daly Cherry‑Evans, this is the darkest moment of his life. He lost the woman he loved for fifteen years, he lost his best friend and teammate, and he lost the perfect family and life he thought he had. But through it all, he has shown courage, honesty and dignity — exactly the same qualities that have made him a legend to millions.
This is goodbye to his marriage, goodbye to his friend, and goodbye to the life he knew. But it is a powerful promise: Daly Cherry‑Evans is here to stay, here to fight, and here to lead the Sydney Roosters — stronger, tougher, and more determined than ever to become a premiership winner.
