Sea Eagles Stars Divided on Fan Reception for Departing Halfback
The upcoming clash at Brookvale Oval promises to be an emotionally charged affair, with the return of former Manly Sea Eagles playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans to his old stomping ground. While Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic believes Cherry-Evans deserves a hero’s welcome, he acknowledges the passionate nature of the Manly faithful and stopped short of dictating their reaction.
Cherry-Evans’ departure from Manly, a club he had become synonymous with over 15 NRL seasons, and subsequent move to the Sydney Roosters in 2025 sent shockwaves through the rugby league community. A bungled contract negotiation ultimately led the halfback to trade the familiar colours of the Sea Eagles for the glamour of the Roosters, a move that dominated headlines.
Thursday night’s fixture, pitting the formidable Roosters against an uncharacteristically struggling Sea Eagles outfit, marks Cherry-Evans’ first appearance against his former club on their home turf. Trbojevic, who maintains a strong friendship with his predecessor, can understand if the Manly supporters express a strong reaction.
“I can understand it in the sense that he played for us and now he’s playing for a different club,” Trbojevic stated. “I’m not going to tell anyone what to do. If they’re going to boo him, they’re going to boo him, it doesn’t matter what I say.”
Despite the potential for a mixed reception, Trbojevic championed Cherry-Evans’ legacy at Manly. The halfback is the club’s most recent premiership-winning playmaker, having guided them to the 2011 title. Furthermore, Cherry-Evans holds the record for the most appearances for the Sea Eagles, boasting over 350 games for the club in its 80-year history.
“I think the (Manly fans) should cheer him, what he’s done for this club,” Trbojevic continued. “He’s played 350-odd games for us and has been one of our all-time greats. I’m not going to tell the fans what to do but I’d like to think they’d be cheering him.”
Trbojevic Brothers Defend Jake Amidst Form Criticism
Amidst the Sea Eagles’ winless start to the season, the form of eldest Trbojevic brother, Jake, has come under scrutiny. However, both Tom and Ben Trbojevic have staunchly defended their sibling, labelling the criticism as “unfair.”
In the Sea Eagles’ round-two loss to the Newcastle Knights, the reigning wooden spooners, Jake Trbojevic recorded a modest 23 metres as starting lock. His last tackle break in the 2024 season also highlighted a perceived dip in offensive output.
The younger Trbojevic brothers argue that focusing solely on statistics fails to capture the full impact of Jake’s contribution to the team.
“A lot of people that watch the games and analysts get caught up in stats and what you need to do with the ball,” Tom Trbojevic explained. “If someone’s tackling hard and forcing errors, it’s just as big a play (as an attacking play) but it doesn’t get talked about as much.”
Adding to the context of Jake’s performances, he is only two games into his return from his third concussion suffered in 2025.
“The way he’s gone after these first two weeks, considering he’s coming off a head injury last year, it’s been great. I think he can only get better,” Tom Trbojevic added. “I think it’s unfair that he is coming under criticism.”
Ben Trbojevic elaborated on Jake’s crucial role within the team’s structure. He highlighted Jake’s importance in setting the defensive line speed and his leadership on the field.
“He gets very amped up and he gets the boys fired up. He’s a really important member of this team and he will be going forward,” the second-rower stated, underscoring Jake’s value beyond the statistical sheet.
The Sea Eagles will be looking to secure their first win of the season when they face the Roosters, with the emotional return of Cherry-Evans adding another layer of intrigue to an already compelling contest. The club’s supporters will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how the Brookvale Oval faithful react to their former star playmaker.
