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The star at the centre of the NRL\u2019s most famous backflip, Daly Cherry-Evans, has welcomed the return of a controversial contract clause, but claims the biggest issue that needs addressing in negotiations is the role of player managers.<\/p>\n
Cherry-Evans famously reneged on a four-year, multimillion-dollar deal with the Gold Coast in 2015 to instead accept a $10 million \u201clifetime\u201d contract with Manly. \u201cDCE\u201d availed himself of a 10-day cooling-off period that gave the Sea Eagles time to make a last-ditch pitch to retain the halfback, which he ultimately accepted.<\/p>\n
The Manly skipper\u2019s decision sparked outrage in some quarters, prompting the NRL to abolish the rule. However, head office has reintroduced a similar \u201clast right of negotiation\u201d clause, which allows clubs a 10-day period to convince an off-contract player to stay and not join a rival.<\/p>\n
The change was made after consultation between the NRL and the Rugby League Players\u2019 Association, of which Cherry-Evans is the general president.<\/p>\n
Almost a decade after copping widespread criticism for reneging on the Titans deal, Cherry-Evans welcomed the return of the contract clause.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always been a big advocate of the players always having the freedom to move around and do what\u2019s best for their families,\u201d Cherry-Evans said. \u201cI know a lot of people want to talk about how it looks from the fans\u2019 point of view but, at the end of the day, we don\u2019t play this game for long and we need to take advantage of every situation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Daly Cherry-Evans reneged on a deal with Gold Coast in 2015 to accept a $10 million \u201clifetime\u201d contract with Manly.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve ever gone at the fans for changing jobs \u2013 it\u2019s just our profession, our workplace. If we get a better offer to go somewhere, I\u2019ve got absolutely no problem to go with it. I\u2019m always pro player on these sorts of things. Whether this is the right model we\u2019ve got in place, I don\u2019t know. Time will tell.\u201d<\/p>\n Some clubs privately feel the change will make it harder for weaker teams to prise a marquee player from a stronger one. However, the veteran playmaker, in camp with the Prime Minister\u2019s XIII side ahead of their clash with Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Saturday, welcomed the move.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not leaving the current clubs high and dry \u2013 that\u2019s always an important thing, particularly if you\u2019re a young player coming through and the club has nurtured you through the juniors,\u201d Cherry-Evans said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great idea to give the club you\u2019re at the last chance to keep you. It\u2019s good for club and player.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Cherry-Evans felt the biggest blight on the transfer market was the conduct of some player managers.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be honest, is it really going to tidy up the contracting model?\u201d he said. \u201cIf player managers are going to want to move you on, are you really going to stay?<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t talk about the player managers enough in this situation. If the game wants to completely tidy it up, they need to get everyone involved; and that\u2019s not just the players and clubs. That\u2019s my opinion on it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019ve got now will be great for the short term and if that\u2019s going to work long term, then we\u2019ll keep it. I think there\u2019s more people involved than just players and clubs, let\u2019s not be naive about this.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on <\/b>9Now<\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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