Jamal Fogarty to depart Canberra for three-year deal with Manly

Jamal Fogarty has informed the Raiders he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, and is set to sign a three-year deal with Manly worth around $2m.

Raiders CEO Don Furner suspected last week that Fogarty would be swapping the nation’s capital for the northern beaches, and said on Tuesday morning: “We wish Jamal all the best.”

Canberra offered a two-year deal worth around $1.3m, but Fogarty, 31, was swayed by a third season at the Sea Eagles.

Fogarty will replace outgoing halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, who is yet to announce what he will do beyond this season, but is expected to join the Sydney Roosters.

The Sea Eagles skipper was a standout in the win over Penrith on the weekend, and even at 36, remains in the mix to wear the Queensland No. 7 jersey in this year’s State of Origin series.

Fogarty’s deal with the Sea Eagles will not feature any options in either the club’s or player’s favour.

‘We wish Jamal all the best.’

Raiders CEO Don Furner on Tuesday.

Manly were impressed with his leadership skills, and know Fogarty will help the progress of young playmakers Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large. That pair are still in their teens, and remain at least two or three seasons away from being regular first-graders.

Canberra have Ethan Sanders ready to step up and replace Fogarty. Canterbury’s Toby Sexton, who is yet to be offered a new deal, and the Roosters’ Sandon Smith, who is anticipating Cherry-Evans’ arrival in 2026, have both been put on Canberra’s radar. But the Raiders are more than happy with 20-year-old Sanders.

Meanwhile, Manly are expected to sit down in the next month to discuss new deals for Jake and Tom Trbojevic, who are both off contract at the end of 2026.

There were reports at the start of the season that Jake, now 31, would need to take a pay cut.

When it emerged Cherry-Evans would depart the club at the end of the year, Jake famously declared he would rather quit than play against Manly.

“It just wouldn’t happen,” said Trbojevic, when asked about the idea of playing against Manly. “I couldn’t do it, personally. People do that, but no, I definitely couldn’t imagine it.”

Tom was prepared to move to five-eighth and play alongside Luke Brooks if Fogarty remained at Canberra.

Manly remain in the market for a middle forward for 2026, and are more than satisfied with their backline options.

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