CHERRY-EVANS REGRETS THE DESMISSAL
MANLY captain Daly CherryEvans has broken his silence over the sacking of coach Des Hasler, revealing he was disappointed at his dismissal but confident the club would bounce back under new leadership.
Former Brisbane and South Sydney head coach Anthony Seibold is expected to take charge once he has completed his commitments with the English rugby union.
Cherry-Evans insisted the Manly club could overcome an off-season of tumult to win again.
“It obviously wasn’t ideal, I guess, to see a club I care about spoken about so poorly,” Cherry-Evans said from Manchester, where he is in camp with the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad.
“The club has (made) a decision to move forward and it is time to get excited about what is coming.”
Cherry-Evans was a vocal supporter of Hasler, having played much of his career under the two-time premiership winner.
“It is disappointing to see Des go – I have a great relationship with him. I definitely sent him some well wishes. He has had a big impact on my footy career.
“I am sure Des is someone I will stay in contact with for a long time. He is a good fella.”
Seibold, a former Dally M coach of the year, has been anointed as Hasler’s successor. He is a coach who Cherry-Evans knows reasonably well – having worked together at Manly and Queensland.
“Seibs was an assistant at the club before so I have a relationship with Seibs,” Cherry-Evans said.
“If he was to be the coach, I guess it is helpful that I have already met him and have a relationship with him.
“The club has been really courteous in keeping me involved in the process.”