Andrew Johns has emphasised the need for accountability among player agents following the recent turmoil surrounding Daly Cherry-Evans’ contract with the Manly Sea Eagles. Cherry-Evans, the club’s captain, recently announced his intention to leave the team at the end of the season, shocking the rugby league community. His decision came after he rejected a revised two-year contract offer from Manly, which was only made public after the news of his departure was leaked by a Nine Network reporter.
Johns, speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour, expressed that the way Manly has managed the situation has not reflected well on the club. He noted that fans might feel let down by how the events have unfolded in the media, stating, "There’s three sides to every story – his side, Manly’s side and the truth."
Despite the surprising nature of Cherry-Evans’ exit after 15 years at the club, both he and Manly have insisted that there is no animosity between them. However, a deeper conflict may reside amongst player agents. Former player and current agent Braith Anasta has suggested that a feud between prominent agents Isaac Moses and Joe Wehbe could influence decisions behind the scenes.
Anasta revealed that during a live broadcast, he received messages from influential agents alluding to the tension between Moses and Wehbe following their split. This discord, he suggested, could be indirectly impacting Cherry-Evans’ forthcoming decisions about his career, noting, “DCE is too measured to let an agent dictate what decision he makes… but there’s an influence there regardless.”
Moses represents several Sea Eagles players, while Cherry-Evans is under Wehbe’s management, indicating a potential conflict of interest. Following Cherry-Evans’ announcement, links to the Sydney Roosters emerged, as several players under Wehbe’s management are reportedly connected to the club.
Johns underscored the significant impact that powerful managers can have on clubs, arguing that there should be stricter regulations around their conduct. He referred to a survey conducted with coaches, where a quarter identified player managers as one of the biggest challenges facing the sport. Johns stressed the necessity for the NRL to implement rules or consequences that could hold these agents accountable for their actions within the league.
In summary, the ongoing saga surrounding Cherry-Evans highlights not only the complexities of player contracts and decisions but also raises broader concerns around the influence of agents in rugby league, calling for potential reforms to safeguard clubs and players alike.