Rugby league icon Wally Lewis has voiced his concerns over how Manly has managed the contract situation of Daly Cherry-Evans, as uncertainties about his future in the sport continue to unfold.
Cherry-Evans stated that he has been the target of an unfair “nasty” smear campaign after he revealed he wouldn’t be donning the Manly colours beyond the 2025 season.
While the halfback assured that the split from the club he has called home for 14 years would be amicable, the subsequent discussions seem to contradict that sentiment.
Questions have been raised about the legacy Cherry-Evans will leave behind, with some suggesting his choice to pursue financial opportunities elsewhere could taint his reputation.
Manly clarified that they were not taken by surprise when Cherry-Evans made his departure announcement live on Nine’s 100% Footy, despite earlier assumptions that they were caught off guard.
Lewis described the club’s handling of the situation as “typical” of the Sea Eagles’ culture.
“When you elevate someone who has had a brilliant past but now has uncertainties about their future, it invites all the so-called experts to weigh in and kick them while they’re down,” Lewis remarked during an appearance on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.
Daly Cherry-Evans of the Sea Eagles. Getty
“Many will say that this is the Manly way. Such things occur in Silvertail territory,” Lewis continued.
“They tend to treat their players well while they’re part of the team, but when it’s time to part ways, they really go in for the kill.”
“(Manly needs to) resolve this issue quickly and prevent it from affecting every match.”
“It’s only piling more pressure on DCE.”
The future of Cherry-Evans in the NRL remains uncertain, with multiple clubs announcing they will not pursue him.
The Bulldogs, Broncos, and Titans were among the first to withdraw their interest, with the Dragons and Rabbitohs also deciding to sit out of the race.
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The Roosters’ Trent Robinson or the Dolphins’ Kristian Woolf could potentially take the reins of the 36-year-old, yet no formal agreement has been reached with any club.
Although the ongoing saga concerning Cherry-Evans doesn’t seem to have affected Manly’s performances, Darren Lockyer has urged the club captain to bring the speculation to an end.
“It will remain a distraction until his future is clarified,” he noted.
“The only way to quell all this speculation and the hypothetical smear campaign is to confirm DCE’s next move.”
“I’m still puzzled as to whether Daly is on the open market or if a deal has been made. That’s where my confusion lies.”
“If the deal is already concluded, why haven’t we made an announcement?”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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