Fact from fiction: Dean Ritchie decodes Daly Cherry Evans’ cryptic Manly messaging over future

Rugby league fans were left with more questions than answer as Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly tried to explain their sides of the biggest news story in rugby league. We decode both sides of the spin.

Rugby league fans were left with as many questions as answers when Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans went on live national television to reveal he was walking away from his beloved Sea Eagles.

Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov did his best to explain the situation on Tuesday as the Sea Eagles try to retain Cherry-Evans beyond this season.

Dean Ritchie looks at the burning issues between Cherry-Evans and the Sea Eagles.

Note: slide the tab to see what each party said before reading DEAN RITCHIE’s analysis.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: It has to be money. Why else would he risk losing legendary one-club status? Maybe he feels an offer should have come earlier but Cherry-Evans told Manly he would likely retire after this season – so the Sea Eagles gave him the necessary space. If he doesn’t have any animosity towards the club, which he claims, why walk away from a $1.5m extension? He must have secured a large deal elsewhere.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: Manly want to know why, too. Manly and Cherry-Evans were due to talk about 2026 after round six. Then, suddenly, Cherry-Evans appears on TV to announce he was leaving. Essentially, he went rogue – and it sunned Manly, who expressed a desire to keep talks confidential. Take it as read, Manly were blindsided.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: Manly had floated a one-year extension, with another season option, in December, but pulled back believing their skipper wasn’t going to play in 2026. When Cherry-Evans’ future started making headlines, Manly formally contacted the player’s manager on Monday to discuss a two-year-deal, which was tabled on Tuesday.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: Because Manly want Cherry-Evans and believe he should be a one-club player. It’s a delicate PR battle given Cherry-Evans is a Sea Eagles legend but Manly think they’re currently in a premiership window and insist Cherry-Evans can help guide them to that elusive title.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: Never say never with Cherry-Evans. Odds are unlikely given how strongly and quickly he dismissed Manly’s latest offer. But he did perform a famous backflip in 2015 after signing with Gold Coast, so who’s to say he won’t take a deep breath and realise Brookvale is home.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: Mestrov denies this but there is clearly some disappointment at how Cherry-Evans has handled the situation. Manly officials are adamant the club was blindsided and feel Cherry-Evans is attempting to manage the narrative, despite talks being transparent throughout this saga.

DEAN RITCHIE DECODES: Manly have tabled their offer but there must surely be a deadline to accept it. Cherry-Evans cannot expect the new deal to sit on Mestrov’s desk for the next three months. Manly have to move forward at some point. My gut feeling is that Cherry-Evans will announce a new club within the next month.

Originally published as Fact from fiction: Dean Ritchie decodes Daly Cherry Evans’ cryptic Manly messaging over future