LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Daly Cherry-Evans experienced a dismal outing following his omission from the Queensland Origin team, as the Manly Sea Eagles suffered a heavy 28-8 defeat to the Gold Coast Titans.
This game marked a setback for Manly, who are now struggling to secure their position in the top eight.
Coach Anthony Seibold faces mounting pressure, particularly in light of disappointing performances against a team missing 11 players due to injury and Origin duty.
Cherry-Evans, the Manly captain, failed to deliver a strong response after being dropped from the Queensland side by Billy Slater.
Although he provided one impressive try assist in the first half, he was otherwise ineffective, contributing to a lackluster performance alongside fullback Tom Trbojevic, who was also returning from injury.
DCE's showing included two inaccurate kicks that allowed the Titans to gain significant advantages.
In a dramatic post-match incident, Cherry-Evans was confronted by a fan who ran onto the field, prompting security intervention.
Despite the chaos surrounding him, DCE maintained that being dropped from the Maroons hadn't impacted his performance.
On a positive note, Beau Fermor, who played for the Titans, sent a message to Slater by excelling in the match, reinforcing the argument that Cherry-Evans' exclusion was a misjudgment.
As the Titans remain at the bottom of the ladder, this victory could signify a turning point for them, while further complicating matters for the struggling Sea Eagles.
The match also dealt a blow to Manly's roster, with standout forward Haumole Olakau'atu dislocating his shoulder-a likely long-term injury-as he was attempting a try, deepening the club's woes ahead of an impending bye week.