Sea Eagles denying rift played role in latest defeat
DALY Cherry- Evans insists he and exiled Manly teammate Jackson Hastings have cleared the air following their infamous falling out in Gladstone earlier this month.
The Sea Eagles’ horror week went from bad to worse yesterday as they fell 44- 10 to the previously winless Parramatta yesterday.
So dismal was the loss, Manly were 88 points worse off than when they beat the Eels 54- 0 just five weeks ago, while Parramatta almost doubled their attacking record after scoring just 46 points in the opening six losses.
They completed just 16 sets, kicked the ball out on the full twice and handed Parramatta the bulk of possession early before their defence fell away before and after halftime.
It marked Manly’s third straight defeat, and came after they were also comprehensively beaten by the Wests Tigers last week that prompted coach Trent Barrett to label their performance as “diabolical”.
Cherry- Evans backed up Hastings’ claims the pair were fine and said the matter wasn’t the cause of the team’s losses.
“It’s not at all ( affecting us),” Cherry- Evans said. “Considering how quickly we moved on from the situation, there was no lingering awkwardness and it certainly didn’t leave it as an excuse to play poorly today.
“We cleared the air straight away. It’s a shame to see so much written about it.”
Cherry- Evans also confirmed he’d accepted a $ 10,000 fine from the club for his role in Gladstone, which included a disagreement both at training and back at the hotel room.
“Not proud of what’s happened but the best way I can respond is to try and play some good football.”
A frustrated Barrett also refused to buy into speculation of whether Hastings would be considered for selection in first grade next week.
Adding to the Sea Eagles’ woes, young winger Brad Parker re- injured his knee when trying to play the ball.