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Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has invoked the Round 13 rule to backflip on a contract he signed with the Gold Coast Titans earlier this year.
Cherry-Evans has not only backflipped on his agreement with the Titans which he signed in March this year, but he will remain at the club for life.
This is despite insistence from Titans CEO Graham Annesley that Cherry Evans would honour his contract with the Gold Coast.
In a press conference this afternoon Cherry-Evans confirmed Titans coach Neil Henry was extremely disappointed when he broke the news to him.
“It probably doesn’t look very honourable the actions I’ve taken over the last 48 hours,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I understand that but there’s only one thing that could have changed the honour of my word and that’s how important my family is to me.”
“The offer to be a one club player, that’s what was so enticing. Job security is important,” he said.
Cherry-Evans’ backflip on the deal has been talked about for the last few months, with the public momentum against the rule allowing players until Round 13 (which begins on Friday) to back out of deals they have signed with clubs.
“The rules are in place for a reason and I’m comfortable with how I’ve played within those rules,” Chery-Evans said.
Under a new rule proposed by the NRL yesterday, players would have a ten-day ‘cooling off’ period after they signed their contract, during which clubs cannot announce their signing.
PRENTICE: New rule will eliminate mercenary backflippers
Cherry-Evans’ backflipping on the deal is not the first example of the Round 13 rule being invoked by a player.
Josh Papalii, James Tedesco and Steve Turner are all examples of players who had signed with clubs but decided to remain their current club under the legislation in place.
The NRL’s new rule would abolish backflipping on contracts outside the 10-day cooling off period.
Despite the months of unsettling speculation over his future, Cherry-Evans said his decision to renege on the Titans deal had only been made “very recently” and was “heavily based” around the happiness of his family.
“In the last 48 hours I think it’s fair to say,” he said.
“When all’s said and done I’ve gone through a lot of pain for this, but I know in the long term it’s beneficial to me and my family.”
Cherry-Evans insisted he intended to honour his four-year multi-million contract with Gold Coast even after Manly signed his good friend, Titans captain Nate Myles.
“It’s only since this offer was put on the table that it was made clear how important this club is to me and how important I am to them.”
He said he understood the Queensland club had every right to be angry over his change of heart and he was sorry but he’d done what was best for him and his family.
Chairman Scott Penn said the long-term deal was a great testament to Cherry-Evans’ standing in the club.
“Daly is the calibre of player that the Club can continue to build a premiership winning culture around,” Penn said.
“Daly has already played in two grand finals for the club and won a Clive Churchill medal. He is at the top of his game and this contract reflects how valuable he is to the Sea Eagles and how important he will be for our future success.”
“We are very confident that this signing will be the tipping point for the Sea Eagles future recruitment plans.”
CEO Joe Kelly said the re-signing of Cherry-Evans was a massive boost for the Sea Eagles.
“Today is a wonderful and historic moment for the Sea Eagles, our sponsors, members and supporters. Daly is one of the best halves in the game and has a long-term representative career in front of him at both State and National level,” Kelly said.
“To now know that he is committed to being a one club player for Manly Warringah is extremely satisfying.”
Cherry-Evans confirmed he was happy with his decision to stay at the club.
“It is with great pleasure and humility I can confirm I will be continuing my stay with the Sea Eagles,” Cherry-Evans said.
“This gives me an opportunity to become a one club player which is something I have dreamed of since arriving as an 18-year-old.”
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