Daly Cherry-Evans returned to Brookvale Oval in enemy colours for the first time on Saturday night, receiving a mixed reception of boos and laughter from the Manly faithful as the Sea Eagles slumped to a 33-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters.
The 37-year-old former captain, who made 352 appearances for Manly over 15 seasons, was booed during warm-up, team introductions and every time he touched the ball in the first half. However, the crowd's hostility had a pantomime quality, with chants of 'Cherry's a w*****' often dissolving into laughter.
Manly's 0-3 start to the 2026 season has left fans frustrated, with all three losses coming at Brookvale. As the game slipped away in the final quarter, chants of 'Seibold out' rang through the main stand, targeting coach Anthony Seibold.
Jake Trbojevic, now the club's longest-serving player after Cherry-Evans's departure, came under fire after managing just two runs in 46 minutes. The forward pack struggled to dent the Roosters' defence, though Taniela Paseka stood out.
Tom Trbojevic scored a 90-metre try 30 seconds after kick-off, and Tolu Koula added a magnificent solo effort, but Manly had only three tackles in the Roosters' half after 30 minutes. The team appears capable of brilliance but inconsistent, leaving serious changes on the horizon.
Manly do not return to Brookvale for another month, and the side that runs out then may look very different. Cherry-Evans, meanwhile, produced a tidy display for the Roosters, who remain a work in progress.
