Gold Coast boss Graham Annesley has poured cold water on a report that Daly Cherry-Evans is set to renege on his rich deal to join the NRL club from next season.
According to the Nine Network on Thursday night, Cherry-Evans – who last month signed a multi-million-dollar, four-year deal with the Titans starting in 2016 – had a change of heart and was considering staying with Manly.
After contacting Cherry-Evans’ agent, Annesley was quick to shoot down the talk of a backflip in a concise statement from the Titans.
“Following media speculation over the last few hours, I have spoken directly with Gavin Orr and Chris Orr of Pacific Sports Management,” said Titans CEO Annesley.
“I have been assured that any suggestion Daly Cherry-Evans will not be honouring his contract with the Titans is untrue.”
Under NRL rules, the governing body only registers contracts for the following season after June 30, leaving a window open for Cherry-Evans to stay in Sydney with the club for which he made his NRL debut in 2011.
There was some speculation Cherry-Evans was keen to play with Queensland teammate Nate Myles at the Titans, but with word the representative forward was on his way out of the Gold Coast next season, it prompted the No.7 to reconsider his contract.
Cherry-Evans and Myles share the same management team.
A backflip would be a huge blow to the Titans, who had signed the 26-year-old as their big-money marquee man to steer the club after a turbulent few seasons.
His Manly halves partner, Kieran Foran, will switch to Parramatta next year.
Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco infuriated Canberra fans last year when, at the start of June, he pulled out of a deal to join Ricky Stuart at the Raiders.
In 2013, Parramatta signed Josh Papalii on a three-year deal from Canberra but he later pulled out of the contract to stay with the Raiders.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Its no worse than announcing a player has signed for another team 3 or 4 weeks into the season
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Spot on. It's surely not rocket science! Hearing of an exciting formal signing of a marquee player for a struggling club, and then reading media speculation of back-flips for a few months is a fan killer. Agents make players look like mugs to fans.
MAX
Guest
DCE to Bondi or Belmore and who could blame him.
Bondy
Guest
This is all looking unprofessional and players and their agents appear to be in complete control of the sport ...
baldie
Guest
Its amazing isn't it? The cynic in me thinks that some people high up in the NRL are benefiting from this, why else would such an absurd rule that makes the NRL the joke of the professional sporting world exist? I would not be surprised if it was found out that play managers are greasing a few wheels over at NRL hq.
Mals
Guest
The bigger joke is not having a proper end of season transfer window!
Baldie
Guest
Round 13 backflip is the cruel joke the nrl plays on fans. Managers and players make slightly more money at the expense of lost fans and the games reputation. seems like dumb business to me.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
For the Titans sake I hope he's right. Though I wouldn't trust anything coming from the mouth of the Orrs.