Sport Confidential: Manly boss Scott Penn stands firm over club’s handling of Daly Cherry-Evans saga, why Zac Lomax is on the Eels wing
It’s become one of the most drama-filled player exits ever, but Manly owner Scott Penn has insisted the club did everything possible to keep Daly Cherry-Evans, defending their handling of the contract saga. SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Manly chairman and owner Scott Penn has backed the club’s handling of the Daly Cherry-Evans contract bombshell after Sea Eagles powerbrokers held an inquest into the saga at a board meeting on Tuesday night.
Penn insists the Sea Eagles could do no more. His endorsement of the way it was handled came as Manly stalwart Jake Trbojevic admitted he could never play against the club and spoke about his desire to captain the side next season.
Penn, who is based in New York, had only been in Sydney a matter of days when he found his club enveloped by one of the biggest stories of the year.
Cherry-Evans’ decision to declare this his last year at Manly led to plenty of finger-pointing, much of it in the direction of the club.
Penn spent Tuesday with key officials revisiting their handling of the negotiations and walked away comfortable that they could do no more.
Sport Con can reveal that Manly head of recruitment Peter Gentle presented to the board on Tuesday night in the wake of the Cherry-Evans drama, where it was revealed that;
• Manly first spoke to the Cherry-Evans camp about a contract extension on November 20 last year, with a one-year deal in the vicinity of $750,000 discussed;
• Sea Eagles officials walked away from those talks believing that Cherry-Evans camp wanted more money;
• Manly powerbrokers believed that after years of being the club’s top earner, a slight pullback in salary was within reason, in much the same way Cameron Smith and Billy Slater had taken pay cuts in the twilight of their careers;
• Manly decided last week to table a two-year deal to Cherry-Evans but waited until after the game on the weekend to make an official offer.
By then it was too late. Cherry-Evans’ mind was already made up.
“We put we put a number on the table back in November last year,” Penn said.
“We have email records of it. I mean it wasn’t a formal NRL contract, but it was a firm offer saying this is the number we can get to.
“They effectively said they wanted more. So we’ve been behind the scenes trying to lock in that number since that day.
“We always said that we wanted him to stay at the club. We presented the best offer we could to stay within the cap.
“He’s been well paid for the last 12 or so years. We were looking for a slight pullback, but it wasn’t ridiculous.”
The news was still reverberating on Sydney’s northern beaches on Thursday as the club finetuned their preparations for Sunday’s game against Parramatta.
Trbojevic was among those who received a heads-up on Monday of Cherry-Evans’ decision prior to the captain’s appearance on television, where he went public. Asked if he could ever see himself playing against Manly, Trbojevic – a Manly junior who is off contract at the end of next season – said: “It just wouldn’t happen. I couldn’t do it personally.
“I definitely couldn’t imagine it, no. You never say never. We never thought Glenn Stewart would leave the club, [even though] he got forced out.
“We never thought Cherry-Evans would leave the club. Right now, my answer would be ‘no’. I love this club. It means the world to me.
“I’ve been here since I was 14 in junior development.”
Cherry-Evans’ imminent departure means the club will be on the search for a new captain and Trbojevic put his hand up. He also went into bat for his brother Tom, conceding he would be a potential skipper as well.
“I’m excited to continue being myself and keep leading the way I do, and I hope next year I get to be captain,” Trbojevic said.
“It would be a true honour and I’d do this club proud.”
LOMAX REVEALS WHY HE’S BACK ON THE WING
Parramatta’s Zac Lomax has revealed a desire to help youngster Jordan Samrani through his opening games in first grade has been behind his shift to the wing in recent weeks.
Lomax has split his time between the centres and wing over the past fortnight, the plan meaning he had one of the busiest games of his career last weekend against the Bulldogs.
Lomax took 31 runs, ran for more than 230 metres and 10 tackle busts in the Eels’ loss to the ‘Dogs last Sunday, a performance that showcased why Parramatta were so desperate to sign him from St George Illawarra.
Lomax’s desire to play centre was cited as one of the reasons for the move but the Eels back insisted he had no issue spending time on the wing over the past fortnight as Samrani got a taste of first grade.
“The last couple of weeks that is what worked for the team,” Lomax said.
“Obviously Jordie came in and he is a centre. It was his first few games and it worked easier for him to defend at centre.
“It worked that I would defend the wing and catch kicks really. I just want to win – that’s all my focus is. Sometimes it looks like I am doing a little extra work but my teammates expect it of me and I expect it of myself.
“I am willing to do whatever it takes to win and a lot of players are in the same boat here.”
Lomax insisted he was happy to do whatever it took to help the team win.
“Being one of the leaders in the team, you do whatever it takes,” he said.
“We’re in a position where we just need to win. Whatever it takes, I am happy to do, just as long as I feel I am competing and going after the game.”
WARRIORS TARGET SUPER LEAGUE YOUNG GUN
The Warriors have wasted little time trying to secure a Dylan Walker replacement after offering young English forward Morgan Gannon a long-term deal.
It is understood the Warriors have put a three-year contract offer on the table for Gannon to consider who is in the final year of his deal at Leeds. At just 21, Gannon has already played more than 50 Super League games.
He has made his comeback this year after missing the entire 2024 season to recover from concussion. Gannon suffered a concussion in a pre-season game in February last year and give his history opted to take a year off. He has successfully returned to the field this season prompting the Warriors to pursue him heavily.
A host of Super League clubs are also keen to secure him.
HOW STORM’S CAP DISPENSATION HURTS RIVALS
Melbourne’s bid to keep Tyran Wishart out of the hands of rival clubs including halfback-hungry Manly is set to receive a helping hand as the NRL prepares to green light their cap dispensation for retired prop Christian Welch.
Sport Confidential understands that the NRL has provisionally accepted the Storm’s application to have the last year of Welch’s contract removed from the cap, although it is believed the parties are yet to finalise on what date the dispensation will come into effect.
Welch announced his retirement on February 12 this year, three months after the final year of his contract had commenced.
However, he had stopped training well before then due to a debilitating back injury and the Storm are hoping the NRL will backdate the dispensation. Regardless, they are likely to have a significant six-figure sum to use in their cap this year given Welch was on a deal believed to be worth up to $600,000 a season.
Even if the Storm application for backdating fails they would still receive dispensation for around $400,000 this year.
The club could theoretically use that money on some of their players this year, which would give them more space in the cap next year to keep the likes of Tui Kamikamica and potentially other squad members.
Wishart is right at the top of the list given he enters the final year of his deal on November 1 and will be in hot demand on the open market – the Storm have a club option for him next season which they will take up.
The Sea Eagles loom as a likely suitor for Wishart given the departure of captain Daly Cherry-Evans at the end of the season.
Manly have already been linked with Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty for 2026 but Wishart could be available in 2027 unless the Storm can tie him to a long-term deal.
Welch’s money has the potential to help on that front as the Storm face a challenging November 1 – aside from Wishart, halfback Jahrome Hughes, captain Harry Grant, fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and wingers Will Warbrick and Xavier Coates will go up for grabs.
WARRIORS COACH ACCEPTS BAN
Warriors assistant coach Richie Agar has taken his three-game ban handed down to him by the NRL following his confrontation with an English-based journalist at halftime of New Zealand’s game in Las Vegas.
Agar was whacked with a three game ban and a $10,000 fine – half suspended – by the NRL
CCTV footage obtained by this masthead (watch the footage above) shows the interaction but does not clearly endorse allegations that Agar grabbed the journalist by the throat. Agar has long maintained that he shoved reporter John Davidson but did not grab his throat.
Regardless, the NRL have fined Agar for bringing the game into dispute. Agar passed the press box from the coaching box to get a lift downstairs for the Warriors’ halftime address when he confronted the journalist.
It means Agar will be unable to perform game-day duties with the Warriors but will still be able to coach during the week.
As part of the punishment he will be unable to travel to Australia with the rest of the New Zealand side ahead of their clash against the Tigers on Sunday.
FLASHBACK
John Folau followed in his brother’s footsteps on this day 10 years ago. 20-year-old John Folau emulated his big brother’s feat, scoring a double in Parramatta’s 29-16 upset of South Sydney. Israel had scored a double on his debut in 2007. John would play just eight first grade games.
200 AND COUNTING FOR EELS STAR
Eels prop Joe Ofahengaue will play his 200th game in first grade this week and he insists he is far from finished as he narrows his focus on winning a contract extension with Parramatta.
Ofahengaue is off contract at the end of the season and his immediate priority is to help Parramatta through a difficult time, hopefully winning a new deal in the process.
Asked about his future, Ofahengaue said: “I am just looking to put my best foot forward and back myself.
“I love being in these situations, I love being on the back foot. I am backing myself to hopefully land another contract with this club.
“This is where I want to be. Parramatta is the club where I can help some of the younger players who are here and also bring something special to this team.”
WOODS ON FIRE
Retired international Aaron Woods has seamlessly slipped into his new career in radio with a strong first ratings survey.
Woods has taken over as co-host at Triple M breakfast alongside former Tigers teammate Beau Ryan and Cat Lynch.
The trio maintained a 5.8 per cent audience share after the ratings were released on Thursday morning.
“I am just having a good time and loving working with Beau and Cat,” Woods said.
“I love coming in every morning to make Sydney laugh. It’s the best job in the world.”
On the AM dial, SEN breakfast’s show rated 1.4 per cent with co-hosts Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander only returning to work for the final part of the survey.
Sky Sports Radio had a 2.1 per cent share.
*****
Some eyebrows were raised when Cherry-Evans made a television appearance not wearing his Manly polo.
Most players wear their own attire on that program with Cherry-Evans not breaking any club rules.
Join the conversation
The Tackle: The moment that proves Broncos are shedding rockstar tag
The Broncos have changed culturally under Michael Maguire, and the proof is plain to see in their preparation. Plus, fans are scratching their heads over the NRL’s lack of punishments for ill-discipline, and why the Bulldogs are the real deal.
Read more
SuperCoach wrap: Time to trade star trio after late chaos
Prepare to hit that trade button following injuries to Tom Trbojevic and Adam Doueihi, while popular cheapie Isaiah Iongi is also on the chopping block.
Read more