Daly Cherry-Evans: Maroons star backflipped on deal to join Gold Coast Titans in 2015 to stay at Manly Sea Eagles

Gold Coasters were left betrayed after Daly Cherry-Evans backflipped on a decision to move from Manly to the Titans, sparking a furious reaction from fans.

Maroons star Daly Cherry-Evans’ time at the Manly Sea Eagles is coming to an end.

The Sydney club’s long-time skipper announced in March he would not renew his contract, with the potential of either retiring, looking for another club in NSW or returning to Queensland.

The Sydney Roosters have emerged in recent days as the favourite for Cherry-Evans’ signature.

It’s been a decade since the then 26-year-old announced he was leaving Manly to head north to the Gold Coast and signed a four-year contract with the Titans beginning in the 2016 season.

Daly Cherry-Evans. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The March 2015 announcement of the $4m deal thrilled Titans fans but within weeks there were rumours he would renege and stay at Manly.

The rumours were sparked by Titans captain Nate Myles, a close friend of Cherry-Evans, announcing he was leaving the club to go to Manly.

Then-Titans CEO Graham Annesley moved to dispel the rumours and insisted the deal was done.

“I have spoken directly with Gavin Orr and Chris Orr of Pacific Sports Management,” he said.

“I have been assured that any suggestion Daly Cherry-Evans will not be honouring his contract with the Titans is untrue.”

Daly Cherry-Evans in 2015.

Gold Coasters felt reassured when it was revealed in May 2015 that Cherry-Evans had spent more than $1.5m to buy a house at Mermaid Beach, just 300m from the ocean.

Titans bosses rested easy, believing the deal was done and that their singing of Cherry- Evans was “safe as houses”.

They believed the wait until the June 9 trade deadline was simply a formality.

They were terribly mistaken.

Anxiety on the Gold Coast began to grow on May 23 when Cherry-Evans admitted he could still be wooed to stay.

“There is still two weeks left, so two more weeks of speculation,” he said.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Gold Coast Bulletin, June 4, 2015

“There is a rule in place which gives Manly every opportunity to do what they have to retain me.”

Just a handful of days later, the worst fears were confirmed when Cherry-Evans backflipped on the deal and revealed he was abandoning plans to become a Titan, instead staying at Manly on an eight-year contract worth more than $10m.

The decision stunned the Titans and forced Cherry-Evans to defend his character.

“I understand one thing, this probably doesn’t look very honourable the actions I have taken over the last 48 hours and I understand that,” he said. “But there is only one thing that could have changed the honour of my word and that is how important my family is to me. So making that quite clear, this decision was heavily based around my family and my happiness in this area.”

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles NRL player Daly Cherry-Evans (right) shaking hands with club CEO Joe Kelly after he revealed he was turning his back on the Gold Coast Titans, signing a “lifetime deal” the Manly Sea Eagles. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)

Cherry-Evans insisted the eight-year contract gave him greater security.

“That offer in particular, the opportunity to stay here and be a one-club player, that’s what was so enticing,” he said at the time.

“In rugby league, job security is something not many people have. It’s something I have been offered and something I am more than happy to take up.

“As long as I’m playing in the NRL, I’m playing at Manly. It’s very exciting news and something I’m more than happy to do.

“I would hate to be in a position that would see me cut short of an NRL career but it is a possibility and I know that with that possibility around and in the game, job security is really important for me and high on my priority list, especially being a young dad.

“I haven’t broken any rules, I have played within the rules, which has given me the opportunity to be here today to announce my stay here.”