Manly Sea Eagles legend Mark Carroll has lashed out at captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans after he confirmed on live television that he was leaving the club at season’s end and would sign-on for a rival NRL side from 2026.
Writing for The Nightly – the premiership-winning Eagles prop took several swipes at the Maroons and Kangaroos playmaker who is heavily linked to a move over the bridge with the Sydney Roosters.
“As a former Manly player, I am really disappointed in Cherry-Evans’ actions,” Carroll wrote.
“I know a lot of ex-Manly players feel the same way but are unwilling – or unable – to truly voice their opinion.
“And I’d be surprised if a number of his current teammates aren’t filthy with him, although they are toeing the line and saying the right things publicly.
“I know I’d have the shits if I were them.
“I feel DCE has put the club in a horrible position and the flak being directed at chairman Scott Penn and Tony Mestrov is a little misdirected and unwarranted.
“Sure, things could have been handled better and the club has acknowledged that.
“My old coach Bob Fulton helped set up the deal that kept Cherry-Evans at Manly in 2015 (worth a cool $10 million, just quietly) when he had one foot on the plane to the Gold Coast.
“The eight-year deal was unprecedented for the time and, to be fair, DCE has mostly delivered, albeit without winning us another premiership.
“So to turn around and announce on live television you’re quitting the club that has given you a shitload of money and set you up for life is piss poor form in my book.”
Manly host the Melbourne Storm this Sunday at 4 Pines Park.
