Daly Cherry-Evans’ huge backflip on his contract with the Gold Coast Titans is a blight on the game of rugby league and just another example of a player taking advantage of a loophole in the system.
The NRL should also be held accountable here for implementing such a farcical rule whereby a player has had up until Round 13 to make a final decision on whether he will honour or renege on his contract.
I totally agree with the Immortal Wally Lewis’ comments about how a contract should be binding once it has been signed and that the anointment of Cherry-Evans as a future Queensland State of Origin Captain has now been seriously brought in to question.
The integrity of rugby league has been tarnished over this drawn-out process, which has largely been played out in the media by Cherry-Evans and his management.
By prolonging his decision to the last moment Cherry-Evans only added to the speculation that he was about to renege on his contract, while at the same time offering assurances to the Titans that he was going to honour his contract with them.
Until the NRL implements a trade period either at the end of the season or a two-week period halfway through the season, players will continue to renege on their contracts. It’s only a matter of time before they find another loophole in the new system due to be introduced next season, whereby a player will have a 10-day cooling-off period after signing a contract.
Sure, what Cherry-Evans has done is within the rules, but his reputation has been tarnished, and no amount of money will ever restore that.
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