The Gold Coast bound five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed he had pledged his National Rugby League future to Manly beyond the 2015 season late last year, before a change of club management resulted in the deal being pulled.
Manly five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans reacts to a call. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 26-year-old has broken his silence on his big money move to the Gold Coast, less than a week after he committed to the embattled Titans on a four-year $4 million deal.
Cherry-Evans said a deal with Manly was "all but signed sealed and delivered" in October before a change in club ownership resulted in an overhaul of club management and a different contract.
"Yeah, it's funny to think, it really blows my mind, that I was all but signed, sealed and delivered with Manly," he said.
"Obviously management changed and the deal became restructured. And it just accumulated that I was given options to look elsewhere and that obviously enticed me."
Cherry-Evans said the first deal offered by previous management was superior to the one offered by the club under new CEO Joe Kelly, who took over from David Perry in late October.
The new Manly deal was pulled by the club last Tuesday, when the Sea Eagles had not heard back from Cherry-Evans' management.
The representative playmaker has been linked to a move to the Gold Coast this season, but Cherry-Evans wants to play out 2015 at Brookvale.
Often painted as the scapegoat for the club's axing of club favourite forward Glenn Stewart last season, Cherry-Evans denied he was a divisive force at Brookvale.
"I can only say that is a common misconception, I have received a lot of support from my teammates not only now but various times at the club when things have not been going well," he said.