Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans hold whip hand in player market
The Australian
September 12, 2014 12:00AM
SOUTH Sydney represents an *almighty challenge to Manly at Allianz Stadium tonight, but the Sea Eagles are only weeks away from an even more daunting proposition as their halves, Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans, prepare to hit the open market.
Foran and Cherry-Evans, who will be vital if the Sea Eagles are to negotiate their way past what is expected to be a largely pro-South Sydney crowd, will be free to receive fully fledged offers from rival clubs from November 1.
Manly’s job in retaining the pair will become infinitely more difficult from that point. Foran and Cherry-Evans, both off contract at the end of next season, are expected to command in the vicinity of $1 million a season as part of their next deal, pitching them into the same earning stratosphere as *superstars Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne and Johna*than Thurston.
That figure is likely to be inflated should rival clubs enter the equation. While a host of playmakers come off contract at the end of next season, potentially flooding the market, Foran and Cherry-Evans sit at the top of that cluttered tree.
It means Manly will be forced to pay top dollar to keep one or both.
The Sea Eagles, aware of the implications of both men going on the open market, tried to head off the situation by attempting to open talks with them.
Foran, who won the club’s players’ player award earlier this week, in particular made it clear that he wanted to put any talks on hold until the end of the season.
As Manly is poised to play finals football, and Foran and Cherry-Evans are certain to be key members of the New Zealand and Australia squads respectively in the upcoming Four Nations tournament, the club may find it difficult to engage in meaningful talks until next year.
By then, both would in all likelihood have significant offers on the table from rival clubs, creating the genuine prospect that the Sea *Eagles may be forced to choose between the pair.
Against that backdrop, Foran and Cherry-Evans shape as the most important figures for Manly as the club attempts to win its way through to the preliminary final by beating Souths.
Cognisant of the attention on his halves heading into tonight’s game, coach Geoff Toovey moved to ease the pressure on Cherry-Evans amid question marks over his halfback’s form in recent weeks.
Cherry-Evans has had one try assist and no line-break assists in the past five weeks.
His dip in form coincides with a period in which Manly’s premiership campaign has faltered.
“I’d never put too much pressure on an individual player,” Toovey said.
“I think the whole team (needs to lift).
“We completed 53 per cent in the first half last week against the Cowboys.
“It wasn’t one player, it wasn’t two players, it was right across the park. We need to lift.”
The good news for Manly is that if they manage to upset Souths, they could have hooker Matt Ballin back in time to play in the grand final qualifier.
Ballin fractured a leg in the club’s win over Penrith in round 25. It was initially expected he would miss the rest of the season, but Toovey confirmed yesterday that the Sea Eagles’ rake was a chance to resume playing in a *fortnight.
“The week off would be fantastic,” Toovey said.
“Matty Ballin (would then be a) chance, so that’s a good-news story for us.
“Matt’s a big part of our team, but we think Jayden Hodges will do a great job.
“First game last week was always going to be tough, being thrown in last minute, but I’m sure he’ll have an impact on the game.”
The precarious situation surrounding Foran and Cherry-Evans could yet have an impact on Anthony Watmough’s future at the club.
Watmough has a contract with Manly for next season but has been targeted by Parramatta.
And the Sea Eagles could yet decide to release him in order to free up money to retain Foran and Cherry-Evans.
Weighing against that is the impact his departure would have on some of his closest mates, including Foran.
