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Cherry-Evans feels he has the support of Manly fans despite 'smear campaign' against him
Sam Kosack • March 30th, 2025 11:37 pm
Manly Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has stated he has been a victim of a "smear campaign" after his side's 26-12 victory at 4 Pines Park.
Before the Sea Eagles were due to take on the Parramatta Eels, attention turned to the reception the Sea Eagles' most capped player would receive as he fronted the Manly faithful for the first time since announcing he would depart the club at the end of the season.
To the Manly captain's delight, the crowd he has been adored by for 15 years continued to do just that; with cheers drowning out small pockets of boos, and posters saying "Cherry-ishing every moment" and "Thanks Daly" adorned around the ground.
It was of visible relief to Cherry-Evans, who has been subject of intense media attention since Monday, and in the wake of the Sea Eagles strong victory, Cherry-Evans addressed the media over what he felt had been a "smear campaign" levelled against him.
“I feel like it could have ended pretty quickly early in the week, but it obviously didn’t, which means conversations were continuing to happen outside of the ones happening between the club and I," Cherry-Evans said in the post-match conference.
"So that’s where I felt like it got a bit nasty and a bit ugly...it’s hard not to take things personally sometimes because we’re all human.
"I know who it's coming from and it's not appropriate to talk about it...I'm alright with the speculation about where I'm going. There's other details that aren't about that."
"My two biggest worries were how it affected the team...and the reception I was really nervous but honestly I was really emotional today when I heard the hill supporting me.
"I was a little worried it wasn't going to go that way based on what was being put in the media, but I reckon they saw right through it and made me so proud that they're supporting me.
"I get this decision isn't going to make everyone happy... but the reception I got today, it made me really proud to make me the captain of Manly."
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov says it is up to Daly Cherry-Evans whether he wants to stay at the NRL club | Video: Dean Lewins
NRL legend Scott Sattler says the whole situation has unfortunately become a PR battle between the two sides.
"What I read in between it is that the club is obviously using information out in the media to try and back their stance," Sattler said on SEN League.
"When he's saying, "I got emotional, I ran out there and the supporters on the hill were supporting me", by saying that it's like 'they're supporting me, not them, the management of the club'.
"I think he was a little bit hopeful thinking if he did it early on in the week we wouldn't be talking about it at the end of the week.
"Off the field he is a great human being, he is a respectful guy...I hate that it has come to this where there's obviously this stance between the two parties...I hope it doesn't divide the club, I hope it doesn't divide the playing group.
"There have been some situations in the club over the last 4-5 years where they have made some poor decisions... that falls on the executive management team.
"He feels disrespected...I don't think there's an open line of communication or a high level of respect between coach and player.
"People are going to say Daly Cherry-Evans' legacy at Manly will be affected...if they get through to a grand final qualifier this year, I think his legacy remains intact at Manly as one of their greatest players of all time."
SEN commentator Mark Braybrook agreed with Sattler, saying fans would be questioning why the contract saga has played out so publicly.
"I think Manly supporters support the players first and the management they'll be questioning in that respect.
"They'll be asking the question 'why the hell did we get rid of Daly Cherry-Evans?'
"If I'm a fan at Manly, I'm thinking why the hell now when we're playing so well, and we've got a chance here... why are we self-destructing or putting ourselves in a position to self-destruct so early in the season."
Cherry-Evans and his Sea Eagles' teammates managed to put aside any distractions from the past week to sail past the Parramatta Eels and move into second place of the NRL ladder, though they did lose star fullback Tom Trbojevic in the process.
Manly next play the Melbourne Storm at home on Sunday.
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