A horror late-season slide has left Daly Cherry-Evans processing a premature Manly end after the club’s NRL finals fate was ripped from their hands.
A lacklustre 26-12 loss to Wests Tigers on Sunday was the Sea Eagles’ fourth straight since a golden-point win over Melbourne seemingly had them on track for finals.
Now, after mustering just 34 points in their past 368 minutes of football, Manly must win their remaining three games and hope other results go their way.
Captain Cherry-Evans will play game 350 next week before a reported move to Sydney Roosters next season.
“We’re now hoping to make the finals, which is not where you want to be,” the halfback said after the loss.
“It’s just the realisation it’s going to be hard to get there … it’s what everyone wanted, not just me.
“I don’t know if toll’s the right word, but right now there’s a bit to process.
“I’ve been here for so long, part of the club a long time, I’ve got a lot of love for this place.
“That (finals) is looking really unlikely now … but as I’ve done throughout my career, I’ve dusted myself off and will get ready for next week.
“We just couldn’t get the footy gods smiling on us today, but we’ve got three games and I’d love to see us stop this four-game slide.”
Manly coach Anthony Seibold credited Wests Tigers’ forward-pack dominance for the performance he labelled “a massive step back” and “worst for a long time”.
“And we’ve got no one coming back to save us,” he said of their injury list, which will now include centre Reuben Garrick (shoulder).
“It doesn’t look great … he said he heard a crack,” Seibold said of Garrick.
“Let’s hope it’s not too serious.”
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