Anthony Seibold wants to blame the NRL schedule for the Sea Eagles’ poor form – but the real issue runs deeper, leaving the club with a tough captaincy call to make around Daly Cherry-Evans, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has questioned the NRL schedule after his side was forced to play a third game in 11 days, with players only having 20 minutes of proper field sessions this week on the back of their long flight from Perth.
The Dragons are in the top eight after holding off a spirited Manly comeback for their second win at Brookvale in 17 years.
Manly’s hopes of replacing the outgoing Daly Cherry-Evans with Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty could be in jeopardy after the Raiders tabled a new deal for their star No.7.
They’re without their best player and have copped a six-day turnaround for a game in Perth, but the Sea Eagles need to find a way to get their season back on track.
Daly Cherry-Evans is yet to reveal where he’ll be playing next season, but Phil Gould is adamant that despite strong links to the Roosters the star halfback won’t be running out for the tricolours.
Kalyn Ponga and Harry Grant were among the flops while a fresh injury concern for Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to dominate SuperCoach headlines all week.
Melbourne’s ‘big four’ put on a clinic in the Battle of Brookvale, dominating Manly from the opening whistle – but the impressive win may come at a cost.
Family and friends have united around Manly premiership-winning star and coach who led Newcastle to famous 1997 grand final triumph, Malcolm Reilly, who is battling spine cancer.
A dressing room handshake fuelled further confusion in the already explosive Daly Cherry-Evans saga. See how Manly chair Scott Penn and CEO Tony Mestrov responded to DCE’s surprise post-game claims.
Unlike the mess that was the Daly Cherry-Evans vs. Manly contract saga, the club captain standing down from State of Origin should be the cleanest call of all, writes DAVID RICCIO.
The next week is critical for Manly. The club hierarchy needs to find a way to coexist with Daly Cherry-Evans after he vented his ‘smear campaign’ grievances, or else they risk blowing a genuine premiership opportunity, writes BRENT READ.
Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans was clearly emotional in a dramatic post-match press conference, claiming he endured an “ugly, hurtful and nasty smear campaign” which fans “saw right through “ after revealing his shock exit from the club.
Rugby league fans were left with more questions than answer as Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly tried to explain their sides of the bombshell Sea Eagles departure. We decode what was said and what was meant on both sides.
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