Joey Walsh has eyes on being Manly's next long-term No.7, but the teenage protege says the longer Daly Cherry-Evans keeps the jersey the better.
Signed straight into Manly's top squad for 2025 after captaining Australia's under-18 rugby side, Walsh has been earmarked as Cherry-Evans' long-term successor.
Cherry-Evans is yet to publicly announce if he will play on next year, with the 36-year-old having already proven in round one he remains among the NRL's premier halves.
That has prompted talks around another contract, with Cherry-Evans avoiding his first injury spell in six years by overcoming back spasms to face Canberra on Sunday.
Coach Anthony Seibold this week urged people to "take a breath" as Cherry-Evans considered his future, amid suggestions Manly had low-balled the veteran and he could look elsewhere.
Regardless, 18-year-old Walsh is happy to wait, believing he is a better player for the time under Cherry-Evans' tutelage before eventually filling his shoes.
"I definitely really hope so," Walsh told AAP, when asked if he wanted to be Cherry-Evans' long-term successor.
"Daly's an awesome player. He's at the peak of his career at the moment. He can play for as long as he wants to.
"We've also got Luke Brooks, who's another legend of the game. Just learning under those two will give me real confidence to be able to come and play.
"I'm blown away at who I get to train with. They've both played for very long and can give me lots of great tips, and I'm picking up lots of things."
A local junior who went to school across the road from Brookvale Oval, Walsh's earliest memories of football include watching Cherry-Evans as Manly's No.7.
Already moved into under-21s while eligible for under-19s, Walsh hopes to have some time playing against men this year in NSW Cup.
The Sea Eagles have also made no secret of the fact they want him to develop from Cherry-Evans and Brooks, putting Walsh's locker between theirs at Brookvale.
"On my first day here, 'Chez' walked around the field with me and talked about my kicking game," Walsh said.
"I just wanted to know about his so I could replicate it.
"But he used the example that he used to watch Cooper Cronk, who's a really straight-on kicker, and it didn't work for him because he kicks on an angle.
"I'm also more of a straight-on kicker. For the first session I tried kicking on an angle like Chez. He passed me two balls and I did two of the worst kicks I've ever done.
"I was so embarrassed. But he's taught me to practise my own game. He said he can give me tips, but don't try replicating because we're different players."
It's a point Cherry-Evans has tried to remind the teenager of in all aspects of his game.
"I am always big on making sure he is just being himself," Cherry-Evans said
"Because he has different strengths, and that's important.
"I never push anything on young halves. I like to really let that stuff happen naturally.
"Having him next to me in the locker room opens up more conversations more organically."
