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.”
With AAP
Ozzisandman
Guest
I am a 74 year old staunch born & bred Qld'er but I feel I must say that if Cherry-evans is selected for Qld origin, I will not watch it - or worse - will barrack for NSW which will probably please my Newcastle born wife of 50+ years!!! He obviously never had any intention of fulfilling his "contract".
Aaron
Guest
Nice work putting it in perspective. Great post.
Tony
Guest
EJ agreed if it's understood to in fact be a cooling off period. However here it is a period where the contract is not binding. That may be semantics, and we will never know what was said between the parties, but if DCE shook Annesley's hand and told him that he would see him next year, then he's going back on his word. Exercising his legal right to do so, but still going back on his word. On the other hand, if he told Annesley that he would see how he felt before the deadline, and that he might not take up the deal, then I've got no problem with it.
john badseed
Guest
...but then anybody married to less than one of their sisters knows that three teams in Qld is two too many.
Meesta Cool
Guest
LIKE!!!... I loved reading Oikee.. Come back mate, this site is now boring as .........
81paling
Roar Rookie
Foran didn't, he never entertained the idea of breaking his word or ethical values.
81paling
Roar Rookie
At least now we know Manly will not will not be trying to get Foran back but, with the star back line they have that is currently failing to perform how will they rebuild their forwards. With the Titans now in the market with a huge amount of money to spend the price for any remaining players off contract just went up.
Meesta Cool
Guest
With his injury record over the last two season, maybe he won't get back to being as good, especially with Foran gone (IF he doesn't renege too... I think maybe Titans have had a stroke off luck here!.
81paling
Roar Rookie
I really feel for fans like Damo on this but, the one thing that may console them is would you want to pay $1.5m per year for him? remember the last club that paid way over for a half back was Parramatta who then received 2 wooden spoons after they signed Sandow for what was considered way over market value. The old saying of whatever doesn't kill you will only make you stronger is true in this case. If the Titans can survive this then they can survive anything. As for blaming the NRL probably a bit far, if they had offered $1.8m that would have got him but, that would cripple the team & imagine the feeling in the dressing room.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I've scoured the history books and I don't recall seeing mention of any good old days. Must have been in one of the appendices.
Kathryn
Guest
Dogs are beautiful, loving and loyal creatures. What a kind and generous comment from someone who clearly lost this battle!
Kathryn
Guest
DCE-Rookie of the year 2011, in which he played in the premiership winning side. 2011- Rugby League International Players Association halfback of the year. Played in losing grand final side in 2013. Clive Churchill Medal Winner in that game. Runner up Dally M award winner 2014. Has played for his state & country in his 4.5 years in first grade, and in all of those years (plus the previous 5.5) Manly have been the ONLY team to make the finals every year, as well as the ONLY team to win a Grand Final in all of the last 5 decades. Never got the wooden spoon either, and nor will we this year. Oh how disappointed Manly fans should be with that track record....NOT! Whilst I don't agree with the rules of the NRL, where players can change their minds before round 13 on contracts, he has not broken any rules, and chosen to stay in 'God's Country'. Although Manly are having a bad year, their injury toll has been woeful, but as a devoted fan, I stand by my team through thick & thin, and am not fretting, like many other commentators above who feel hard done by. Blame the NRL you sad, sorry whingers- they make the rules. As the salary cap increases over the life of his contract, 10 mil. will be tuppence, to retain a player of his calibre, as detailed above, and not threaten Manly's ability to work within the salary cap- easy & genius maths. It is the job of a player agent to source the best deal for his players, and a players right to make the most of their careers whilst their bodies can take it. Smart move DCE. He will be Manly's next Captain. And finally, if he played for any other team, there wouldn't be such uproar. As we at Manly proudly say, EVERYBODY HATES US & WE DON'T CARE! May you all have a happy day. Nighty night! ️xxx
Gav
Guest
Not to mention 10yrs of family certainty in terms of location
NQ Cowboy
Guest
I can understand Titans fans being disappointed but some people on this forum are getting a bit carried away with talk of him being a grub and a traitor. It's not like we haven't seen players backflip on contracts before. Managers have previously used the threat of their client going to Rugby Union to increase their contract offers but in the case DCE's manager has played the Titans and the Sea Eagles against each other to get the best offer. Well played. Everyone knows that loyalty is dead in this day and age and this game is now a business. I imagine everyone else would do the same thing if they were offered substantially more money to continue working for their current employer.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I've been pretty harsh on DCE today but there's no doubting his ability on the field. He'll be the next QLD and Australian halfback.... Hunt isn't in the same ball park.
Joe
Roar Rookie
The NRL has a lot to answer for in this whole sorry saga. DCE is a family man with a young family and of course he will do what's best for his family even if it means backing out on his word and ticking off a whole lot of people who are now calling him a grub, low life and worse. This was a guy who only a few weeks ago had one of the best profiles in the game and well respected and now is a pariah because of the dumb rules that the NRL has that allows players and clubs to have these idiotic bidding wars over months. They've pretty much just rubbished the profile of one of their brightest stars in the game. The media also have added to this circus as their were others e.g Tedesco, Papali who didn't get this level of scrutiny. Not to mention the sorry Titans who bent over backwards and freed up salary cap for DCE only to be stuffed in the final week. Sad state of affairs all round.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I sort of understand his decision and why he made it but there is no need to justify yourself and talk abiut being a one club player, the honour of your word etc. Makes it looks worse. You had lengthy negotiations with clubs, you wanted to get as much as possible, which is fair enough, but don't tell us it was anything but a financially based decision.
Gav
Guest
Very interesting timing on the NRLs announcement!
Scott
Guest
Cherry Evans was not worth the money the Titan's offered him, let alone the Manly offer. The saving grace is that they kept Eldgey who will end up a much better player than Cherry Evans. Myles is extremely over rated and I would personally much rather a younger local player like Ryan James and three cheaper front rowers. Sezer started well but to be honest you can't call him a champion based on recent results, though he has been one of the Titans more consistent good players.
81paling
Roar Rookie
Manly are coming last and they just signed a contract with their chief play maker for $1.5m per year. Gavin Orr must be the best agent in the world, Manly always negotiated hard. It looks like agents now know how to crack Manly, I bet Steve Matai is asking a few questions.