‘Real divide’: Teammates accuse DCE of ‘derailing’ Manly’s season as Maroons snub looms

Daly Cherry-Evans is reportedly responsible for dividing the Sea Eagles’ dressing room over his decision to leave the club.

Daly Cherry-Evans is reportedly responsible for dividing the Sea Eagles’ dressing room over his decision to leave the club.

Manly captain Cherry-Evans dropped a bombshell back in March when he announced he’d be leaving the club at the end of the season.

The veteran halfback didn’t commit to continuing his playing career but he’s been heavily linked with a cross-town move to the Sydney Roosters.

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The Sea Eagles have lost four of their past five games and Cherry-Evans’ Maroons jersey is no longer a lock heading into his clash against the Cowboys on Saturday.

“Off the back of that loss to Cronulla last Sunday, there has been a lot of noise around that there’s worse than splinters in the Manly camp, there is a real divide,” James Hooper said on NRL 360.

“It all centres on that decision he made on live television, the club was blindsided and there’s been a massive flow-on effect.

Daly Cherry-Evans is leaving Manly at the end of the season. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“Some players, senior players, are struggling and they believe that decision essentially derailed their season and looking at current form you would have to say that’s the way it’s tracking.

“How would you feel Gordie if one of your teammates said at the start of the season they were leaving?”

“Well Wendell (Sailor) did it and I was gutted,” Gorden Tallis responded.

“Wendell promised us he was going to stay and then he went to rugby union and you do feel gutted. The senior players do feel hurt when you lose (another senior player).”

Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden is pushing for Cherry-Evans’ Queensland jumper or a spot on the bench.

But journalist Dave Riccio revealed a left-field No. 14 option for the Maroons could have Cherry-Evans in trouble.

“It all comes back to form and showing your teammates that you’re willing to rip in every single week. We saw that really good performance against the Panthers and then the nowhere performance against the Sharks,” Riccio said.

“He has to show his teammates he’s willing to rip and tear for Manly. At this point in time I can understand why his teammates are going ‘hang on, are you in or are you out?’.

Could Tom Dearden start for Queensland in Origin? (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Kurt Mann is firming as a utility option for Billy Slater.

“The big one is this Saturday night, if he flops and Dearden fires… the fact that Billy Slater is considering Kurt Mann as a utility option on his Maroons bench… Kurt is such a valuable utility for the Dogs and they have a huge opinion of him.

“But if there is a dip in DCE’s form (and Dearden gets picked halfback), they have a ready-made utility in Kurt Mann.

“It’s a pretty small bench… small, mobile, fast feet through the middle, that’s the belief I understand. There’s a lot of football to be played this weekend, I’ve heard Beau Fermor’s name come up as well as a bench option.

“That bench spot for the Maroons, that No. 14 is suddenly a bit more open.”

Originally published as ‘Real divide’: Teammates accuse DCE of ‘derailing’ Manly’s season as Maroons snub looms