Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans says he\u2019s handling the firestorm around his playing future \u201cas best as he can\u201d, conceding a finals series in his last season at the Sea Eagles is now unlikely.<\/p>\n
The Sea Eagles\u2019 26-12 loss to the Tigers on Sunday essentially eliminates them from finals contention. <\/p>\n
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It\u2019s a disappointing scenario for Manly, who have lost four games in a row to fall out of the eight. <\/p>\n
Cherry-Evans cut a dejected figure on the field at full time and in the Sea Eagles\u2019 post-game press conference. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re now hoping to make the finals which is where you don\u2019t want to be,\u201d the Manly skipper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if toll is the right word, but after the game there is a bit to process. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve got a lot of love for this place so obviously wanted to finish with a finals campaign but that\u2019s really unlikely. The realisation of that is why I looked so disappointed after the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cherry-Evans was then asked by a journalist if the outside noise around his future has affected him. <\/p>\n
The star half is expected to join the Roosters next season although nothing has been made official.<\/p>\n
Given Cherry-Evans\u2019 up-and-down form, combined with the recent red-hot run of the Roosters and their halfback Sam Walker, it has led to speculation the Chooks might have a case of buyer\u2019s remorse. <\/p>\n
In addition, it was reported earlier in the week that Cherry-Evans\u2019 Roosters deal hasn\u2019t been registered by the NRL yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust to be clear so I can differentiate, I\u2019m definitely not happy with losing four in a row,\u201d Cherry-Evans said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything else to be honest with you, I\u2019m doing the best I can and feeling like I can hold my head up high.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manly coach Anthony Seibold didn\u2019t want to make excuses for what he labelled a \u201cmassive step back\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, he noted his team\u2019s injury crisis, with seven first choice forwards all unavailable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve come off the back of a really tough month of footy where we\u2019ve played three of the top four teams, which has taken a fair bit of juice out of us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were entrenched in the finals so the last month has been really disappointing for us. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re missing some of our bigger bodies and we were beaten up the middle today. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeven of what we potentially thought would be first choice forwards unavailable at present, but our group today, we beat Melbourne a month ago. Same group of players. So injuries are not an excuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were way off today but we lost the battle in the middle. I can bulls**t you but that\u2019s where we lost it.\u201d<\/p>\n