I suspect as I have always suspected: that he agreed to sign with the Roosters and Channel Nine way back before his big announcement, and that everything else is smoke and mirrors.
I love how the article says the Dolphins must be talking to Cherry, despite publicly saying they're not interested, because Cherry says he's spoken to them. Doesn't consider the prospect that the Dolphins aren't lying and that maybe - just maybe - Cherry is.
Also love the, "I won't be announcing it during Origin" bit. Yeah, wouldn't want to cause any distractions during Origin, would you? Much better to wait until Manly's season starts to look vaguely promising again, or another halfback is the the news cycle.