Jackson Hastings’ potential England exit could ease Manly’s tensions, writes Paul Kent
IF Jackson Hastings pursues interest from English clubs and takes off for the Super League sooner rather than later, as speculated, it will go some way towards easing tensions out Manly way.
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IF Jackson Hastings pursues interest from English clubs and takes off for the Super League sooner rather than later, as speculated, it will go some way towards easing tensions out Manly way.
The Sea Eagles soap opera took a sizeable step to the left this week with Anthony Watmough’s solid go at captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Big picture, it should make Manly bosses consider the future.
Watmough revealed Cherry-Evans lost the faith of his former teammates, the best players in what is so far his best era at the club, after holding out for a contract upgrade.
Moving along, we all know Cherry-Evans is in the third year of a massive $10 million eight-year deal at the club.
It is a significant percentage of the salary cap which demands a significant input, on and off the field.
Cherry-Evans had a fight with Hastings earlier this season which has resulted in coach Trent Barrett backing his skipper and banishing Hastings to NSW Intrust Super Premiership.
But now the Sea Eagles are under injury pressure and Barrett has no option but to stick solid and overlook Hastings even though his talent more than qualifies him for a place.
It has to be causing at least some in the squad to look sideways and wonder what the coaches are doing and whether they are giving them their best chance to win.
Meanwhile, Manly bosses have to think how hard it is to build a roster around their $10 million investment given Cherry-Evans needs help.
Cherry-Evans is incapable of doing it on his own, prompting the question of whether Manly can go through another five years like this.
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