- Daly Cherry-Evans raises eyebrows after emotional scenes
- Manly lost their fourth straight match on Sunday afternoon
Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has triggered a blaze of speculation about his future following an emotional moment with his wife Vessa after Sunday’s loss to the Tigers.
A lacklustre 26-12 loss to Wests Tigers was the Sea Eagles’ fourth straight since a golden-point win over Melbourne seemingly had them on track for finals.
Now, after mustering just 34 points in their past 368 minutes of football, Manly must win their remaining three games and hope other results go their way.
Following the match, Cherry-Evans had an emotional exchange with his wife where he could be seen embracing her and his children.
The post-match scenes raised the eyebrows of footy commentator Andrew Voss and fans watching at home.
‘There were signs yesterday particularly post-match – there was an exchange had with his wife on the fence – it was very much ‘last game’ areas,’ Voss said on SEN’s Vossy & Brandy radio show.
A leading voice in rugby league thinks Daly Cherry-Evans (pictured centre before Sunday’s game against Wests) might retire at season’s end
‘It was like he was breaking the news, “Nah, that’s it, love, I’m done”. There was a very extended conversation, it seemed quite emotional.
‘I thought that seemed a bit strange, three weeks from the end of the season, he’s playing on next year, it’s not the end of the road for Manly. It was unusual.’
Voss added: ‘In the game, the reaction to the errant pass to Ben Trbojevic, it was emotionally a little over the top for Daly Cherry-Evans.
‘Putting those pictures together, I thought, “There’s a player who’s going to announce his retirement”.’
A few footy fans took to social media to reveal they thought the same thing.
‘I actually thought he was going to cry when he stuffed a kick… I think retirement might be on the cards,’ one wrote.
‘Probably time,’ posted another.
Cherry-Evans will play game 350 next week before a reported move to Sydney Roosters next season on big money.
‘We’re now hoping to make the finals, which is not where you want to be,’ the halfback said after the loss to Wests.
Cherry-Evans’ exchange with his wife Vessa (pictured together ahead of 2024 Dally M Awards) on Sunday raised eyebrows
Cherry-Evans (pictured with wife Vessa) will play his 350th game next week before a reported move to the Roosters in 2026
‘It’s just the realisation it’s going to be hard to get there … it’s what everyone wanted, not just me.
‘I don’t know if toll’s the right word, but right now there’s a bit to process.
‘I’ve been here for so long, part of the club a long time, I’ve got a lot of love for this place.
‘That (finals) is looking really unlikely now … but as I’ve done throughout my career, I’ve dusted myself off and will get ready for next week.
‘We just couldn’t get the footy gods smiling on us today, but we’ve got three games and I’d love to see us stop this four-game slide.’
Manly coach Anthony Seibold credited Wests Tigers’ forward-pack dominance for the performance he labelled ‘a massive step back’ and ‘worst for a long time’.
‘And we’ve got no one coming back to save us,’ he said of their injury list, which will now include centre Reuben Garrick (shoulder).
‘It doesn’t look great … he said he heard a crack,’ Seibold said of Garrick.
‘Let’s hope it’s not too serious.’
