Is it time for Manly to dump Daly Cherry-Evans as captain?

IS Daly Cherry-Evans the right man to be leading Manly? Or should Trent Barrett hand the job to Jake Trbojevic? The conversation has only gathered momentum following yesterday’s outburst from Anthony Watmough over the club’s $10M man.

Daly Cherry-Evans or Jake Trbojevic... Who would be the better captain for Manly?

IS Daly Cherry-Evans the right man to be leading Manly? Or should Trent Barrett hand the job to Jake Trbojevic?

The conversation has only gathered momentum in the wake of another tough week for Manly’s $10 million man.

While injury to Api Koroisau still hasn’t opened the door for Jackson Hastings, Cherry-Evans sure has something to prove when he runs out against St George Illawarra and Queensland No.7 Ben Hunt on Saturday.

Daly Cherry-Evans or Jake Trbojevic... Who would be the better captain for Manly?

Anthony Watmough was back in the news yesterday when he delivered one of the all-time sprays about his version of the split in the playing group after Des Hasler left Manly.

Speaking with Hello Sport Podcast, Watmough basically accused Cherry-Evans of holding the club to ransom by not attending training sessions when he was seeking a pay rise under Geoff Toovey — and that Cherry-Evans “turned into ­a f---wit” after his rookie year in 2011.

While Watmough’s comments might have nothing to do with now, they come on the back of the recent dramas surrounding Hastings and Cherry-Evans’ questionable form.

Cherry-Evans was dogged by rumours he didn’t get on with the then senior players.

Fox League commentators Braith Anasta and Mick Ennis were only calling it as most see it when they delivered a stinging assessment of Cherry-Evans’ performance last weekend against the Warriors.

“(His salary) has been publicised, but as the marquee man you have got to deliver in those big moments,” Ennis said.

Anasta added: “The problem is he is a great front-runner.

Hastings has been trapped in NRL purgatory for much of the season.

“When they are going great, he loves getting his hands on the ball and he is dominant, and it is like he is a superstar.

“But as soon as they get behind (and) they need something, he doesn’t deliver.”

Which is the issue for Barrett.

If Cherry-Evans is the man to continue to lead this side, he has to stand up when the team needs him. Not when it suits him.

Just like Jake Trbojevic does every week.

Originally published as Is it time for Manly to dump Daly Cherry-Evans as captain?