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Broncos to pounce on tensions between Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly's Stewart brothers
Peter Badel
The Courier-Mail
August 22, 2013 12:00AM
A RIFT with Sea Eagles teammates Brett and Glenn Stewart could deliver Queensland ace Daly Cherry-Evans to the Brisbane Broncos.
The Courier-Mail understands attempts by Manly’s hierarchy to secure Cherry-Evans for an extended term are being complicated by tensions between the Maroons playmaker and the Stewart brothers.
The breakdown has led Cherry-Evans to consider his career options, with Cherry-Evans recently telling a Brisbane Test star of his desire to return to Queensland to play for the Broncos.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey says he is not aware of a personality clash between the parties. But the issue is real and has become so vexing it has reached the Sea Eagles board, who have discussed Cherry-Evans's souring relationship with the Stewart duo.
Cherry-Evans, who made his Origin debut in June, is contracted to Manly until the end of 2015. The Sea Eagles want the 24-year-old for a longer term, and have discussed his burgeoning leadership potential, but Cherry-Evans is taking a wait-and-see approach.
A well-placed source said the tension has its roots in the established dressing-room power base at Brookvale, where Glenn and Brett Stewart are among the most influential figures.
The pair have noted the rapid elevation of Cherry-Evans, who in the space of two years has gone from an NRL debutant to one of the club's most talented and marketable commodities.
Reluctant to rock the boat, Cherry-Evans has tried to handle the matter himself without escalating the issue to Toovey or Sea Eagles management.
But the fallout has opened the door for the Broncos, who are hopeful of securing Bulldogs sensation Ben Barba and Canberra young gun Anthony Milford for next season.
Toovey said Manly's on-field performances this season indicate any purported issues between Cherry-Evans and the Stewart brothers are not toxic.
“I honestly don't think there is an issue,” Toovey said.
“If those things are truthful the team wouldn't be performing to the best of its ability. We're firing on the field so I'm comfortable with the way we're playing and the morale at the club.
“We've had a stable team environment the past few years and we have won a competition together.
“If there were any serious dramas between players, as a coach I would see it and it would affect our on-field performance."
Even if Cherry-Evans honours his existing deal, an eventual return to Queensland is a serious option. The halfback's father Troy has strong links with Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and CEO Paul White, whose ties with Evans Snr go back to their days in the mining industry.
The Cowboys would also be a potential home for Cherry-Evans, who hails from the north Queensland town of Mackay.
The Broncos have not made an approach to Cherry-Evans but Toovey says he wouldn't be surprised if Queensland's flagship club attempted to bring the playmaker home.
“Any successful team faces a battle to keep its best players,” he said. “We've put a lot of work into Daly and he's repaid that with the way he's performed.
“The Broncos rumours are always there as long as they aren't performing well. In regards to those rumours, the Broncos have a lot of quality players already on their books.”
Cherry-Evans's manager Gavin Orr said on Wednesday night: “Daly has married a girl from Manly, her family are from there.
"As long as Daly is happy off the field, I see him staying in Manly. But he is a Queensland kid and things change from year to year.”
http://mobile.news.com.au/sport/nrl...stewart-brothers/story-fndv31ch-1226701583923
Peter Badel
The Courier-Mail
August 22, 2013 12:00AM
A RIFT with Sea Eagles teammates Brett and Glenn Stewart could deliver Queensland ace Daly Cherry-Evans to the Brisbane Broncos.
The Courier-Mail understands attempts by Manly’s hierarchy to secure Cherry-Evans for an extended term are being complicated by tensions between the Maroons playmaker and the Stewart brothers.
The breakdown has led Cherry-Evans to consider his career options, with Cherry-Evans recently telling a Brisbane Test star of his desire to return to Queensland to play for the Broncos.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey says he is not aware of a personality clash between the parties. But the issue is real and has become so vexing it has reached the Sea Eagles board, who have discussed Cherry-Evans's souring relationship with the Stewart duo.
Cherry-Evans, who made his Origin debut in June, is contracted to Manly until the end of 2015. The Sea Eagles want the 24-year-old for a longer term, and have discussed his burgeoning leadership potential, but Cherry-Evans is taking a wait-and-see approach.
A well-placed source said the tension has its roots in the established dressing-room power base at Brookvale, where Glenn and Brett Stewart are among the most influential figures.
The pair have noted the rapid elevation of Cherry-Evans, who in the space of two years has gone from an NRL debutant to one of the club's most talented and marketable commodities.
Reluctant to rock the boat, Cherry-Evans has tried to handle the matter himself without escalating the issue to Toovey or Sea Eagles management.
But the fallout has opened the door for the Broncos, who are hopeful of securing Bulldogs sensation Ben Barba and Canberra young gun Anthony Milford for next season.
Toovey said Manly's on-field performances this season indicate any purported issues between Cherry-Evans and the Stewart brothers are not toxic.
“I honestly don't think there is an issue,” Toovey said.
“If those things are truthful the team wouldn't be performing to the best of its ability. We're firing on the field so I'm comfortable with the way we're playing and the morale at the club.
“We've had a stable team environment the past few years and we have won a competition together.
“If there were any serious dramas between players, as a coach I would see it and it would affect our on-field performance."
Even if Cherry-Evans honours his existing deal, an eventual return to Queensland is a serious option. The halfback's father Troy has strong links with Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and CEO Paul White, whose ties with Evans Snr go back to their days in the mining industry.
The Cowboys would also be a potential home for Cherry-Evans, who hails from the north Queensland town of Mackay.
The Broncos have not made an approach to Cherry-Evans but Toovey says he wouldn't be surprised if Queensland's flagship club attempted to bring the playmaker home.
“Any successful team faces a battle to keep its best players,” he said. “We've put a lot of work into Daly and he's repaid that with the way he's performed.
“The Broncos rumours are always there as long as they aren't performing well. In regards to those rumours, the Broncos have a lot of quality players already on their books.”
Cherry-Evans's manager Gavin Orr said on Wednesday night: “Daly has married a girl from Manly, her family are from there.
"As long as Daly is happy off the field, I see him staying in Manly. But he is a Queensland kid and things change from year to year.”
http://mobile.news.com.au/sport/nrl...stewart-brothers/story-fndv31ch-1226701583923
