South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has ruled out pursuing off-contract Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans for the next NRL season

Cherry-Evans announced he was leaving the Sea Eagles at the end of the season, despite the tabling of a two-year, 1.5 million dollar offer on live television.

Bennett says the Rabbitohs could not fit the 36-year-old under the salary cap, while negotiations are ongoing to re-sign five-eighth Cody Walker.

The coach has also called for trade windows to stop such issues acting as a "self-destruct button" on the NRL campaign.

Current rules allow players in the final year of their contracts to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1.

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