Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to stick with Manly won’t be welcomed by Maroons fans, Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros admits.
But Betros hopes he never sees the day Queensland supporters boo their own.
All eyes will be on Cherry-Evans against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night – his first NRL game since his decision to abandon his four-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans – a move that has caused an uproar north of the Tweed.
Queensland great Gorden Tallis even suggested it may impact on Cherry-Evans’ future Maroons captaincy claims.
The reaction has been so overwhelming that Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was forced to defend Cherry-Evans on Thursday, asking fans to “move on”.
Betros admitted Queenslanders would be irate with the Maroons Origin halfback.
“I don’t doubt Queensland people will probably frown upon him for a while but I don’t think it is a death sentence,” Betros told AAP.
“He will cop some criticism but I think it will die down eventually.”
Betros joked that Queenslanders “booed Manly anyway” but he found it hard to believe Maroons fans would jeer Cherry-Evans on Friday night.
“I don’t think Queensland supporters would ever boo a Maroon,” he said.
“I find that hard to believe. I hope it doesn’t happen.
“The guy has made a choice about his career. We have to respect it even if we don’t agree with it.”
The stage was set for a heated Suncorp Stadium “welcome” after Cherry-Evans was cleared of a shoulder complaint that kept him out of State of Origin I.
“I can’t judge how people will react. He has made his decision, he is moving on – I reckon the rest of us should too,” Bennett said of Cherry-Evans.
“I am pleased he is out there playing tomorrow night for the game’s sake because we need those quality players out there.”
Betros did not want to speculate on Tallis’ claim that Cherry-Evans’ decision would harm his Queensland captaincy chances.
“It’s hypothetical,” he said.
“Cameron (Smith) will be captain for another two or three years – who knows what is going to happen after that?
“It’s a personal decision he has made.
“It’s easy to criticise him but I don’t think it achieves anything.”
Bennett expected a clear-headed Cherry-Evans to be at his best on Friday night after finally ending his contract saga.
Manly may be dead last and Brisbane equal first but Bennett has rated their clash a “danger game” due to the Cherry-Evans factor.
Bennett even tipped Cherry-Evans to slot back onto the Maroons bench for June 17’s Origin II in Melbourne, leapfrogging incumbent Michael Morgan and Brisbane’s Ben Hunt.
“The selectors are loyal like that and I believe in it. The other boys will get their chance,” Bennett said.
up up cronulla
Guest
Im sure dce with 10million in the bank gives a s@#t !!!!
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I have no idea why DCE is getting hard done by here. I can also twist the story to suit which ever angle I am coming from, this is because no one is blameless and because everyone including the clubs have their own selfish interests at heart. In the case of Manly I can argue if you really wanted DCE to leave and go to the Titans why wouldn't you table a counter offer from the start. Why let it play out like this. Why wouldn't you offer a player like DCE a great contract at the start so he wouldn't even consider going to the Titans. The answer is because they would have loved to have locked him up on the cheap and kept all those other players under contract. Players who have in my eyes at least have been underpaid for years. They wanted their cake and to eat it too. At the same time when did Manly table an offer to DCE, did they wait until the final moment to announce the deal or did they make an agreement with him weeks ago and just told him to keep quiet. The benefit of these 13 weeks wasn't just to DCE, Manly was clearing cap space by getting rid of players like Watmough and Foran so that they could keep him. They didn't have to go in this direction, they made this decision. I have to question it because I think they have paid too much for DCE, especially the early part of his contract. It might look like a better deal further on depending on how much the next tv deal is worth and if DCE can remain healthy for the whole of his career. For the Titans part, they saw DCE as a key component of their team going forward and why not. He is a good player, but at the same time they also shifted a lot of players in order to sign him. Was it right to offer DCE such a big contract knowing that it would limit your ability to sign players in the future. Was it a risky strategy putting all your eggs in one basket with such a long cooling off period. Am I supposed to feel sorry for the Titans for this shemozzle. No not for one bit. They would have been equally ruthless with their list of players in order to sign DCE up. As it stands now if I was a player looking to get a decent contract, especially if I was a half back. I would be going to the Titans. The whole point is that contracts like this affect a lot of players not just DCE, it affects more than just Manly and the Titans. Everyone has a role to play in being open and transparent in this whole process and no one can turn around and say, "poor me, I am innocent". It doesn't work that way. The clubs themselves have been exploiting loopholes, not honoring contracts and players for years. They just don't like it when it happens to them, even though DCE has done nothing wrong. He has just played the same game back at them. Checkmate.
Adsa
Guest
I hate Manly but support DCE 100% and love the Maroons, so don't speak for me.
The eye
Guest
Coaltrain and Nate Miles are the only significant Qlders in the side..( thats how the trends always been)..and Nates getting out..Qld in name only
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
If I remember properly with the inglis situation he was granted a release by the Storm specifically because brisbane had a contract waiting to be signed, but at the time there was a disagreement between the players association and the NRL over the CBA (or something like that) and no signings could be made when Inglis was supposed to sign. In this window Crowe was able to convince him to go to Souths instead made easier by the turmoil brisbane were in with regards to Ivan Henjaks (lack of) job security.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Perhaps Betros can explain why Broncos fans would bother booing Cherry Evans, he will be bood because he is a Manly player, Broncos fans couldn't give a toss about the Titans.
Superstar superhuman
Guest
Cronk, smith, slater etc never signed a contract with a qld team and backed out at the last minute though. Inglis backed out of a handshake agreement with Broncos though but at least he never put pen to paper
Bearfax
Guest
Terry how many other players and clubs have broken contracts. Even Tallis who is criticising DCE did it in 1995 to St George. The point is it is like the 14 or 28 day cooling off period which we all have in various contracts we sign. The League decided that the period should be extended to 13 weeks. Sure that's probably a poor decision, but the principle is exactly the same. We can all do it and many do. Its part of business practices.
Jay C
Roar Guru
No they're Queensland.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I may have gone a bit melodramatic.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
What DCE did was break his word. His action was morally wrong. However, there will be a reaction ..... from now onwards he will need to be the perfect rugby league halfback and Manly will have to win every game otherwise it will be seen as his fault. The slightest bit of unrest within the Manly squad will be seen as his fault. The first time Manly have to off load a player due to the salary cap it will be seen as DCE's fault. The man is going to live every day with ever mounting pressure ..... and yes, the fans from every club, except maybe Manly, will boo him for years to come.
Planko
Guest
He should play for Nsw anyway his first decent football was played at Manly.... His first senior football was played for ? We should rename origin to play for the state you want too ?
Laurence Plant
Roar Rookie
No one in QLD likes the Titans lol.
Jara W
Guest
As a Broncos supporter the only thing I'm dissapointed about is that he is fit and playing this week. ;) Although Tom Trbojevic scares me as well. But that dissapointment is far outweighed by him getting a tough game under his belt before Origin II though. Titans, pfft! Zero appeal to me since Preston Campbell and Matty Rogers retired.
Brett
Guest
They'll get over it. I'm keen for DCE to slot back into the QLD side.
Rugby stu
Guest
Exactly, lets face it though Titans aren't really seen as that much of a Queensland team anyway, maybe more of a neutral team to most I would say.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Could rub my tentacles over his bald head just like the gimp in pulp fiction. He is a hypocritical fool sometimes
Renegade
Roar Guru
Tallis is a gimp.
Bearfax
Guest
Though I like Tallis as the player and he seems quite suited to the media game, his criticism of DCE is quite hypocritical given what he did to St George in 1995. This is one argument he should have steered well clear of
TahDan
Roar Guru
As a player who has only ever played first grade in NSW and has chosen to live out his life here, I think he probably ought to now be able to play for the Blues ;-) .