Cherry-Evans hints at Manly strife behind the scenes

THE chasm at Manly appears to be widening after skipper Daly Cherry-Evans hinted at his displeasure with the undersiege NRL club.

Cherry-Evans took a veiled swipe at Sea Eagles hierarchy after Friday’s embarrassing 42-34 loss to the Gold Coast.

The Titans rubbed salt into Manly’s wounds after a disastrous season marked by specu- lation coach Trent Barrett is about to walk out on the final two years of his contract.

He’s reportedly set to resign over a lack of resources and funding.

Asked how the club can solve the mess it finds itself in, Cherry-Evans suggested all was not well behind the scenes.

“I’ve got some pretty strong opinions on what’s happen- ing,” the Sea Eagles skipper said.

“But now’s not the right time to talk about it. Certainly when it’s a lot clearer, I’m more than happy to speak about it.”

Just 6382 fans turned up to Brookvale for the club’s final home game of the season.

Manly fans have voted with their feet this year with the club’s average attendance at the ground just 8630 – the lowest since 1966.

As well as having to deal with the expected impending departure of Barrett, the club should in the coming weeks learn its fate over its salary cap appeal. The club has taken its case to the NRL appeals tribunal after being fined $750,000 and being slugged with a $660,000 salary cap penalty. The club has also being forced to endure negative headlines over Jackson Hastings’ messy exit after his infamous Gladstone bust up with Cherry-Evans.

It all paints a worrying picture for the northern beaches club and chief executive Lyall Gorman once again refused to address the media after the game.