Manly officials hope love – not hate – will be in the air as angry fans threaten to disrupt two major Daly Cherry-Evans events over the closing weeks of the NRL season. The club’s most-capped player will celebrate his 350th game in the NRL when he runs out against the Dolphins at 4 Pines Park on Saturday afternoon.
Thirteen days later against the Warriors, Cherry-Evans will make his final appearance in maroon and white before either departing for the Roosters or retiring from the competition. Both home games will be played against a backdrop of drama and acrimony.
Departing Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans could face a mixed reception from fans in his final NRL home games for the Sea Eagles. Pic: Getty
Cherry-Evans’ decision to quit the Sea Eagles – announced on Channel Nine just three weeks into the season – has not gone down well with many Manly fans. While they initially backed their captain, that support has dwindled in recent months as the Sea Eagles’ season headed south.
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They have won just seven games since his shock announcement and are currently on a four-game losing streak that has all but ended their top eight hopes. Manly fans are at war with each other, with half calling for the captain’s axing and the other half arguing he should be given a send-off commensurate with his service to the club over 15 years.
Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has two home games left at 4 Pines Park before his Sea Eagles career comes to an end. Pic: Getty
There are fears the anti-Cherry-Evans brigade will make their feelings known loudest during his final two home games – or boycott the matches in protest. But Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov is confident supporters will give their captain the farewell he deserves.
He told Yahoo Sport Australia: “Daly is our most-capped player and a premiership winner and I’m sure fans will want to show their appreciation for his contribution over many years. To play 350 games is a remarkable achievement and is to be applauded. The crowds at 4 Pines have been great all year and we’d love to see big numbers attend our final two home games.”
Superfan Stephen Lucas, whose ‘Guess what? Manly hates you too’ banner is well known to league supporters, is also calling for unity. “If some so-called fans boycott those games, it just means there will be more room for the real fans and less d***heads at the games,” he said.
“It will be sad saying goodbye to DCE. I wish he wasn’t going but in saying that he has his reasons and I wish him the best whatever he chooses to do. I am glad I got to see him play so many games for Manly and hope he goes out on a high note.”