LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Cooper Cronk expressed strong criticism of Daly Cherry-Evans during a tough night for the Sea Eagles, who faced a 28-12 defeat against Canberra. This loss positions Manly at 10th on the NRL ladder, putting pressure on them to win all remaining matches to qualify for the finals.
Adding to their woes, the team will be without Jake Trbojevic due to his third concussion this season. The Sea Eagles looked to Cherry-Evans for a standout performance against the top-ranked Raiders.
However, Cherry-Evans's defensive performance fell short. After Manly initially led 6-0, Ethan Strange easily bypassed him to score an impressive solo try. Cronk criticized Cherry-Evans's defensive effort as "poor," noting that he failed to commit physically. He remarked, "Cherry-Evans got caught up on Hudson Young as the lead runner, that was a poor effort there. The No.1 rule against Strange is he has a strong left foot and will always try and beat you back inside."
Strange continued to dominate, scoring a hat-trick in the second half due to another lapse from Cherry-Evans. When Strange received a pass and attempted to fend off Cherry-Evans, the latter again chose not to engage with body contact and instead tried a weak grab, leading to another missed tackle. This allowed Strange to run freely to the line.
Later in the match, Cronk suggested that Cherry-Evans's decision to announce his departure from the club for 2025 may have adversely affected the team's season. Manly had a strong start but struggled after Cherry-Evans made his announcement. Social media also reflected criticism of his performance, with fans questioning if the Roosters had made the right decision to sign him for 2026.
Meanwhile, Trbojevic's situation raises serious concerns after he sustained a category-one concussion in the second half. He will be sidelined for 11 days, missing Round 24's game against the Tigers.