Daly Cherry-Evans displayed a downcast demeanour during his post-match press conference following Manly’s disappointing 26-12 defeat to the Wests Tigers. The 36-year-old halfback, who will depart the Sea Eagles at the season’s end, expressed his frustration and sadness as the reality sank in that the team’s hopes of reaching the finals were fading. Following a promising start where Manly scored first, the team allowed five unanswered tries, leaving them trailing behind.
Currently, Manly is tied on 24 competition points with the Dolphins and Tigers, now four points shy of the eighth-placed Sydney Roosters with only three rounds left in the season. In his media interactions, Cherry-Evans reflected on the team’s struggles and the grim prospect of a top-eight finish, stating, “We’re now hoping to make the finals, which is not where you want to be.”
He articulated the emotional toll of potentially missing out on finals, particularly as it would conclude a long and dedicated career with the club, saying, “I definitely wanted to finish with a finals campaign. That’s obviously looking really unlikely.” Nevertheless, he conveyed resilience, emphasising his intention to regroup and prepare for the upcoming challenges.
Next weekend, Cherry-Evans will reach a milestone of 350 first-grade appearances, all in the Sea Eagles’ maroon and white, as he navigates the end of his tenure with the team. When discussing the situation, he stated, “The best I can,” while clarifying that he wasn’t satisfied with the team’s performance, especially given their current four-game losing streak.
Head coach Anthony Seibold faces mounting pressure with the prospect of another year without finals looming. Just a month ago, the Sea Eagles had hope after a stunning away win against the Melbourne Storm, but this recent run of losses to teams, including the Bulldogs and Roosters, has left them in a precarious position in the standings.
Seibold acknowledged the disappointing performance, particularly given the stakes at this late stage of the season. He noted, “With everything on the line, to perform like that – which was below our best – was disappointing.” Going forward, the team is relying on favourable results and must improve quickly, as they have upcoming matches against the Dolphins, Dragons, and Warriors, with next week’s game seen as crucial for playoff aspirations.