Sad situation worsens as ‘painful' sight sparks Daly Cherry-Evans retirement theory
A lacklustre 26-12 loss to Wests Tigers on Sunday was the Sea Eagles' fourth straight since a golden-point win over Melbourne seemingly had them on track for finals.
Now, after mustering just 34 points in their past 368 minutes of football, Manly must win their remaining three games and hope other results go their way.
Captain Cherry-Evans will play his 350th game next week before a reported move to Sydney Roosters next season.
But prominent commentator Andrew Voss questioned whether Cherry-Evans will instead sail off into the sunset.
'Post-game today, Daly Cherry-Evans looked like a bloke going to announce his retirement. Never seen it from him before today,' he wrote.
'No body language expert here, but...'
He described Cherry-Evans as having a 'painful' look on his face after a pass was knocked on with 20 minutes to go.
Fans also lamented the sad situation ahead of what should be a celebration at the end of a difficult year, with Cherry-Evans having been dropped as Queensland captain after the State of Origin opener.
'We're now hoping to make the finals, which is not where you want to be,' Cherry-Evans said after Manly's loss to the Tigers.
'It's just the realisation it's going to be hard to get there ... it's what everyone wanted, not just me.
'I don't know if toll's the right word, but right now there's a bit to process.
'I've been here for so long, part of the club a long time, I've got a lot of love for this place.
'That (finals) is looking really unlikely now ... but as I've done throughout my career, I've dusted myself off and will get ready for next week.
'We just couldn't get the footy gods smiling on us today, but we've got three games and I'd love to see us stop this four-game slide.'
Manly coach Anthony Seibold credited Wests Tigers' forward-pack dominance for the performance he labelled 'a massive step back' and 'worst for a long time'.
'And we've got no one coming back to save us,' he said of their injury list, which will now include centre Reuben Garrick (shoulder).
'It doesn't look great ... he said he heard a crack,' Seibold said of Garrick.
'Let's hope it's not too serious.'
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