If we needed any further confirmation the Manly Sea Eagles are a fractured side it came on Mad Monday.
The beleaguered club organised a function at Brookvale Oval to let their hair down after a difficult season. Only half the squad turned up.
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“They are completely fractured,” The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said on NRL360 on Monday night.
“They had their Mad Monday on Sunday after the Canterbury loss. They were all supposed to turn up at Brookvale oval for a beer and a drink and a get together.
“Half didn’t show up.”
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Rothfield said he confirmed captain Daley Cherry-Evans was in attendance but that the club would not reveal the names of players who boycotted the event.
It caps off a disastrous month for the club following the pride jersey saga that divided the dressing room and saw them freefall out of finals contention.
Coach Des Hasler’s position is under threat with the club to hold a crisis meeting on Thursday. There it is expected that the club will inform Hasler of changes to his coaching staff in a move that would see the veteran coach relinquish some control.
It comes amid reports superstars Tom and Jake Trbojevic are furious at the direction of the club and could consider walking out if things don’t improve.
It then emerged that the origins of division within the team date back further than the pride jersey saga.
2GB’s Ray Hadley revealed Daly Cherry-Evans was granted preferential treatment during last year’s bubble in Queensland and was allowed to live with his family away from the playing group.
The move was poorly received and is understood to have sowed the seeds of discontent with Cherry-Evans as leader.
On Monday, Rothfield declared the club needed a change in leadership and that Jake Trbobejevic was the man to steer them out of a crisis.
“(Cherry-Evans is an aloof sort of character so when there are problems like the pride jersey or tactics or form or Des and they want to discuss it he’s not as approachable as someone like Jake Trboejvic.
“This is why there is a push for Jake to take over”.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that he has relationship problems with a lot of the football side.
Kent said Cherry-Evans needed to get in the trenches with his teammates.
“He does dance to a different drummer,” he said.
“I think at some point he’s just to get a little dirt on his hands with his teammates and say “guys I’m in it with you.”
