Cornish will not be at the Raiders next year after being overtaken in the pecking order by Sam Williams and the recruitment of Titans playmaker Aidan Sezer on a three-year deal.

The domino effect of whether Cherry-Evans stays at Manly or honours his Gold Coast Titans deal means Cornish's manager Paul Sutton's hands are tied.

Both Manly and the Titans have made unofficial inquiries regarding the off-contract Cornish, who has seen the writing on the wall at Canberra after he was dropped for Williams after four rounds.

Williams is contracted until the end of 2016 and has been solid since he replaced Cornish.

With Blake Austin in superb form at five-eighth, Cornish will be squeezed out, and Cherry-Evans could be a huge player in what he does next.

Canberra also have high hopes for 18-year-old playmaker Lachlan Croker, who has been dominant in his first season with the under-20s.

Asked if Goulburn product Cornish was resigned to leaving the Raiders, Sutton said: "They've got too much there. That's what he's got to do, find a club where he can position himself to be first choice.

"Once Cherry makes his decision, then other clubs are going to know where they stand as well."

Manly had targeted Gold Coast young gun Kane Elgey as one of their replacements for Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, but he has since signed a two-year deal with the Titans.

If Cherry-Evans heads to the glitter strip, it is likely to rule out the Titans as an option for Cornish, who returned to first grade for an injured Williams in last week's loss to St George Illawarra.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are expected to table an official offer to Newcastle centre Joey Leilua after he was granted a release from the final year of his Knights deal.

The Raiders remain hot favourites for the 23-year-old's services, and the fact his cousin is already at the club is their ace in their pack.

"I think he's pretty keen on the idea [of Canberra], Sia Soliola and that are there, we've just got to work it out," Sutton said.

"There's a few clubs interested, but it's getting the offers in writing."

In an interview with Peter Sterling on Fox Sports on Wednesday night, Knights skipper Kurt Gidley left no doubt that Leilua's commitment was a cause of concern at Newcastle.

"He's got all the talent there, but we need him buying into everything that we're trying to do," Gidley said. "Whether that's rehab, training, extras, video, whether that's BJ [Leilua], Jarrod Mullen or myself.

"You need to be doing the same things the other players are doing and the extras to be part of our team week in, week out."

However, the Raiders feel Soliola and Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, who have helped mentor their young players, will keep him on the straight and narrow.

Elsewhere, the Canterbury Bulldogs will be without captain James Graham after the prop was ruled out with a concussion suffered in last week's loss to the Roosters.

Graham lasted just 27 minutes in his comeback from suspension after he copped a heavy knock to the head attempting a tackle.

The Bulldogs will also be without Brett Morris, Trent Hodkinson, Josh Jackson and David Klemmer due to NSW Origin duty, while Josh Morris is injured.

SUNDAY 

NRL round 11: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium, 4pm

TV: Live on WIN