NRL 2022: Daly Cherry-Evans opens up on Manly Sea Eagles quit threat, Des Hasler future
A public battle for the Manly leadership pushed Daly Cherry-Evans to the brink of walking out on the club. He opens up about the horror end to 2022.
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Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed he considered quitting Manly after his bombshell claim there was a political “agenda” at the club to have him sacked as Sea Eagles skipper.
Cherry-Evans opened up about his horror final months at Manly as the Maroons maestro prepares to lead Australia’s Prime Minister’s XIII into battle against Papua New Guinea on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
The 283-game Manly legend addressed explosive rumours he didn’t get on with the club’s Polynesian contingent, his relationship with besieged coach Des Hasler and the personal toll of calls for him to be axed as Sea Eagles captain.
Cherry-Evans admits he was also rocked by claims he had a fractured relationship with the Trbojevic brothers, Tom and Jake, prompting the 33-year-old to consider quitting Manly - just months after inking a two-year extension.
Manly had a shocking finish to the 2022 season, losing seven straight games following the gay-pride jumper debacle, and Cherry-Evans concedes he was almost a casualty of the flying shrapnel at Brookvale.
“I’d be lying to say it (joining another club) didn’t cross my mind,” Cherry-Evans said ahead of the PM’s XIII-PNG clash.
“People just wanted to cause uncertainty.
“I know that sounds ridiculous ... how could people at one club want to rip the place apart but unfortunately that is the situation we have at Manly.
“Those things I can’t control.
“After these things come out (about Cherry-Evans losing the dressing room) ... once you have the conversations with people within the club and how unrealistic these comments were, I feel really comfortable about where I stand.
“It just reassured me that what I am doing at this club is the right thing.
“The love I have for the place hasn’t changed. I am going to continue to try and get Manly back to finals next year and finish my career there.”
There is a view a faction at Manly is working behind the scenes, politically, to have Cherry-Evans removed as skipper in favour of Jake Trbojevic.
The 33-year-old is aware of the speculation and fears the innuendo surrounding his relationship with Manly’s slew of Polynesian players was a racial narrative constructed to trigger his demise from the Sea Eagles leadership post.
“I thought that (being offside with Polynesian teammates) was pretty funny to be honest considering how comfortable I am with all my teammates, let alone the seven that didn’t play (over the gay-pride jersey) and the rest of the Polynesian group,” Cherry-Evans said.
“They are just rumours that came out because people wanted to unsettle me as a person.
“The longer it went on and the more people I spoke to the more I realised that these were personal attacks and that there were certain agendas that were trying to be driven.
“I am comfortable with my relationships at Manly.”
Asked if those agendas included bringing him down as Manly skipper, Cherry-Evans replied: “Yes, there probably were. That is probably the reality of the situation ... is that people wanted that (him sacked as captain).
“Two months ago I was the best captain in Australia. Now I can’t lead Manly. It is pretty funny isn’t it? That is part of the rugby league stuff that comes around in circles all the time.
“But the people that hold the power at the club have backed me as skipper. I take a lot of confidence in that.
“It was nice to hear (Tom and Jake Trbojevic) come out and say, ‘You are our skipper’.”
Despite the internal ructions, Cherry-Evans is confident he has the support of new chief executive Tony Mestrov and is determined to lead a Sea Eagles resugrence next season _ backing Hasler to hit back as coach.
“There is definitely the human element of it all when people are attacking you personally. It is never a nice thing,” he said.
“The more discussions I had at the club the more I understand a lot of it wasn’t true. I took a lot of satisfaction knowing where I stood with everyone at Manly.
“There are some things I will never be able to control at Manly but the things I can control are the relationships I have with the coaching staff and playing group and the ownership.
“The more it has gone on the better I have felt about it because some of it (criticism of him) is just going to go around in circles.
“When people do get attacked in public it is usually their families that suffer the most. Usually they are not professional athletes who have years of emotional and mental wellbeing to support themselves. They are the ones that usually struggle to understand what is going on. I have been doing this for a long time.
“It was disappointing to see the club dragged through that but it will move on.”
Of Hasler, whose career is on the line at Manly, Cherry-Evans added: “I have said from the start that I am a big fan of Des Hasler and I am a big fan of him being our coach for as long as he can do that.
“I am not going to get in the way of a contract negotiation between a club and a coach. That’s not my ground to stand on, but I will stand here for my coach and say that I hope he gets that sorted out because I do really love him as a bloke and I do enjoy being coached by him.
“The playing group I can have an impact on and I am really confident about where I stand and where the playing group stand with each other.
“Beyond that it is for the club to worry about. In the off-season we have a really long period of time to sort that out. I am sure the people at Manly right now are working through it.
RATINGS: THE BIG GUNS WHO FAILED IN MANLY’S DRAMATIC FALL
- David Riccio and Michael Carayannis
Manly’s best player this season will be running around for another team in 2023 and the Sea Eagles are in all sorts off the field as they try and fight their way back to finals footy.
There were some bright spots for the northern beaches outfit in 2022, but is it enough for Des Hasler — assuming he remains the coach — to plot a top-eight finish?
NRL experts David Riccio and Michael Carayannis rate Manly’s top 25 players this season.
1. Kieran Foran
Five-eighth
Games: 24. Wins: 9.
Key stat: 20 line break assists.
Contract status: Signed with the Titans
The Sea Eagles’ surprise decision to move him on at the end of the season could come back to bite the club. Was one of the bargain buys of the season and proved every inch his worth playing in all 24 matches. Now off to the Titans on a two-year deal worth about $800,000. Has been the glue in a fractured Manly playing group. Showed how widely respected he is by his peers after picking up the club’s players’ player gong.
2. Daly Cherry-Evans
Halfback
Games: 22. Wins: 7.
Key stat: 20 try assists.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2025
Started the year on fire. Sat in seventh on the Dally M player of the year award leaderboard – six behind top placed Ben Hunt but would have struggled to make a dent in the back half of the season. Like Manly, his form fell away when the season reached the halfway point – playing in just two winning performances from round 13. Still one of the best halves in the game. Was given a new contract extension.
3. Lachlan Croker
Hooker
Games: 23. Wins: 9.
Key stat: 39.6 tackles per game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Manly’s undervalued player who they continue to get great value for money for. Picked up the club’s player of the year award and that was largely off the back of his consistent performances. Not one to ever create headline moments on the field he just goes about his business quietly. Has really made the dummy half position his own and is a reliable performer.
4. Haumole Olakau’atu
Backrow
Games: 21. Wins: 8.
Key stat: 100 tackle busts in 21 games.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
His six Dally M votes had him second behind Cherry-Evans for Sea Eagles players when the public counting stopped. Scored 10 tries this season including a purple patch where he crossed for five tries in four games in the opening eight weeks of the season. Damaging edge player who was on the cusp of Origin selection but wanted to represent Tonga.
5. Jake Trbojevic
Lock
Games: 20. Wins: 9.
Key stat: 1.6 missed tackles per game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Once again the heart and soul of the Manly club. Had the rare chance to captain the side this year and like always gave everything in every match. An injury robbed him of the final three matches of the year but by that point the season was long gone. Would benefit from taking the line on more instead of being that ballplayer in the middle of the field.
6. Reuben Garrick
Winger/fullback
Games: 21. Wins: 9.
Key stat: 149 running metres per game
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Mr Reliable who again proved invaluable to the side following the injury of Tom Trbojevic. That shifted him from the wing into fullback but he showed he is more than capable of playing in the no.1 jersey. Struggled with an ongoing hip injury but played through the pain as he knew Manly were battling with injuries. It was a shoulder injury which eventually meant his season came to a premature end.
7. Dylan Walker
Utility
Games: 23. Wins: 9.
Key stat: 20 post-contact metres per game.
Contract status: Joining the Warriors on three-year deal
Played a few roles for the Sea Eagles this season but was predominantly used off the interchange bench as a middle forward. Also spent time at centre and hooker. He thrived in his new super sub role and was a rare consistent performer in his last season at the club. Took up a big money offer to join the Warriors from next season.
8. Tom Trbojevic
Fullback
Games: 7.Wins: 3.
Key stat: 17 games missed.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Once Trbojevic left the field with his arm in a sling against Parramatta in round 11 it was fair to say Manly’s premiership chances were over. Off the back of one of the most remarkable seasons last year, it was always going to be difficult for the superstar fullback to replicate that form. He was brilliant in the opening stages of the season but was unable to kick into top gear after another season was ended on the sidelines.
9. Josh Aloiai
Prop
Games: 15. Wins: 7.
Key stat: 121 metres per game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2025
Manly’s forward leader. The team struggled for go-forward when he was missing. Missed the opening three games of the season because of suspension and then had a run of minor injuries which saw him miss matches at different times. Re-signed with the club on a long-term deal.
10. Tolutau Koula
Centre/fullback
Games: 20. Wins: 7.
Key stat: 69 tackle busts.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
The 20-year-old was a rare success story for the Sea Eagles this year. Speedy outside back who became a genuine threat whenever he touched the ball. Slotted comfortably at centre and had a couple of chances at fullback. Bright future who will become a potent player once he has an opportunity to play regularly outside Tom Trbojevic. Won the club’s rookie of the year award.
11. Christian Tuipulotu
Winger
Games: 19. Wins: 7.
Key stat: 11 tries from 19 games.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Played just two top grade games in as many seasons heading into this year. Played his first game of the season in round eight and missed just one match for the rest of the year. Was reliable out the back and provided some good carries coming out of his own end. Still only 21.
12. Martin Taupau
Prop
Games: 21. Wins: 8.
Key stat: 22 offloads.
Contract status: Unsigned
The veteran forward has certainly lost some of the punch which was his trademark throughout his career. Still is yet to decide where he will play next year after a late season switch to the Eels was quashed. Won’t be at the Sea Eagles in 2023. Spent a large chunk of the season starting off the bench but failed to have a significant impact.
13. Taniela Paseka
Prop
Games: 11. Wins: 5.
Key stat: 39 post contact metres per game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
There’s no surprise that part of Manly’s slide happened when Paseka missed a large chunk of the middle part of the season with a knee injury. Paseka played the opening seven matches but was not seen again until round 16. He still seemed hampered by the knee complaint when he made his comeback with his impact nullified.
14. Andrew Davey
Second row
Games: 18. Wins: 8.
Key stat: 18 games tackles and 18 tackle busts.
Contract status: Joining the Bulldogs in 2022.
Davey was one positive to come from a torrid season for Manly. The late-bloomer shook off an injury-plagued 2021 season to enjoy his most successful NRL season to date, featuring in 18 games and averaging 61 minutes per game. The 30-year-old backrower has been lured out of Manly to join Canterbury next year.
15. Toafofoa Sipley
Prop
Games: 19. Wins: 6.
Key stat: 19 games and 18 offloads.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Began the season as Des Hasler’s first-choice prop, but as the season wore on the powerful ball-carrier found himself dropped to the bench and to lock. Undeniably a hard-to-handle middle-forward is Sipley, but his discipline is an issue as the most penalised player in the Manly team with 12 penalties conceded this season.
16. Sean Keppie
Prop
Games: 17. Wins: 9.
Key stat: 6.6 runs per-game and 56 metres per-game
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Wasn’t sighted after round 19 due to an AC shoulder injury. Up until that point, Keppie averaged 32-minutes across 17 games. A big man, his ability to play longer minutes in the middle of the field has to be an off-season focus.
17. Jason Saab
Winger
Games: 16. Wins: 8.
Key stat: 7 tries in 16 games compared to 26 tries in 27 games last year.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Edging towards six-weeks post ACL reconstruction surgery, the talented winger is set for a slow start to the 2023 season. Until the season-ending injury in round 22, Saab’s struggle to find the tryline this year as frequently as what he did in 2021 is the greatest insight into how far Manly’s attack nosedived this season.
18. Morgan Harper
Centre
Games: 18. Wins: 8.
Key stat: 18 games and almost three missed tackles per game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Dangerous with the ball as shown by almost 100 metres per-game and 42 tackle busts this season, Harper needs to find consistency in his defence in 2023.
19. Brad Parker
Centre
Games: 10. Wins: 3.
Key stat: 10 games and 17 tackle busts.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
An unhappy season for the underrated centre with knee injuries limiting his appearances to just 10 games. One of a host of players off-contract next season - he would be viewed by rival clubs as a handy option.
20. Karl Lawton
Backrow/hooker
Games: 9. Wins: 5.
Key stat: 11 tackle busts in nine games.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
A year that Lawton will never forget. His turbulent season was derailed the moment he produced a dangerous tackle of South Sydney’s Cam Murray in round 8 which led to a four-week suspension. Devastatingly, the wholehearted forward played one more game before suffering a ruptured ACL. He hopes to be back on the field in June next year.
21. Ben Trbojevic
Centre/backrow
Games: 10. Wins: 2.
Key stat: 13 tackles busts in 10 games.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
The youngest brother of the Trbojevic clan, Ben continued his upward trajectory with more games in 2022 than in 2021 (four). Showed his adaptability by playing from the bench, in the backrow and at centre. Season 2023 has to be about making a starting 17 spot his own.
22. Josh Schuster
Back row/five-eighth
Games: 13. Wins: 4.
Key stat: 11 errors in 13 games.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Began the season off the long run after suffering an ankle injury in the pre-season. It meant he began his season in round eight, at a time the rest of the competition was match fit and hardened. Undeniably talented, Manly’s great hope at five-eighth must develop a more disciplined approach to his attack with his 11 errors in 13 games an indication of his at-times preference to overplay his hand.
23. Ethan Bullemor
Backrow
Games: 12. Wins: 2.
Key stat: 20 post-contact metres per-game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Hardworking and honest, Bullemor struggled for game time in 2022 with the backrower unable to get ahead of preferred edge forwards Andrew Davey and Haumole Olakau’atu. Contracted next season, there have been reports that the 22-year-old is considering an early retirement to start a career as a fund manager.
24. Kaeo Weekes
Wing/fullback
Games: 3. Wins: 0.
Key stat: NRL debut in round 19.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
One of the real standout players from the very successful Sea Eagles Pathways Academy, Weekes has been a prolific try scorer in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions after starting at Manly as a 14-year-old. His dream NRL debut arrived in round 19 from the interchange bench before finishing the season at fullback in Manly’s last round loss to the Bulldogs. One the Sea Eagles can’t afford to lose.
25. Kurt De Luis
Prop
Games: 6. Wins: 1.
Key stat: Zero errors in six NRL appearances.
Contract status: Unsigned
The 26-year-old benefited from the club’s rainbow jersey controversy, with his relentless work-ethic at training rewarded with automatic promotion into the NRL team during the final rounds of the season. Didn’t put a foot wrong when called upon for an average of 22 minutes per-game, he is off-contract, but would undoubtedly be worth re-signing.
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