Titans chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle says she was blindsided by Daly Cherry-Evans’ backflip
PETER BADEL AND TODD BALYM EXCLUSIVE THE COURIER-MAIL JUNE 05, 2015 12:00AM
TITANS chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle admits she was blindsided by Daly Cherry-Evans’ contract backflip.
“I felt Daly was rock solid,’’ Frizelle said.
As Cherry-Evans flew into Brisbane on Thursday for Manly’s clash with the Broncos tonight, Frizelle revealed her disillusionment with the contract saga that has forced the NRL to change its contract-registration rule.
Frizelle said Cherry-Evans had personally assured her he was committed to joining the Gold Coast next season.
The respected businesswoman was a key figure in securing Cherry-Evans’ signature. It was at her family’s prestige car yard at Southport where Cherry-Evans and his wife Vessa attended the meeting that sealed his $4 million contract with the Titans.
When rumours of Cherry-Evans’ potential backflip surfaced last month, the Manly playmaker moved to douse the speculation by telling Frizelle he was still coming to the Titans.
Frizelle was at a business meeting on Wednesday spruiking Cherry-Evans’ qualities when she discovered he had signed a lifetime deal with Manly.
“I’m old fashioned, if you give me your word, I take you at your word,” Frizelle said.
“We’ve built a successful business on that basis. Integrity is a critical ingredient.
“I never had a reason to doubt Daly or his word. We had a signed contract.
“His management conveyed that he was rock solid and he was committed to coming to the Titans. On this basis, the club made recruitment and retention decisions to ensure we remained within the salary cap.
“He is clearly an exceptional player, but we are very disappointed.
“The way I look at it, the club is bigger than one any player, it’s about the entire team.
“The club has had to overcome worse situations than this and I can assure you we will recover again.’’
Frizelle learned of Cherry-Evans’ Brookvale bombshell through the media and was so disappointed at hearing the news, she did not take a phone call from the halfback.
“Daly tried to ring me,” she said.
“It was after the media had alerted me to what had happened so I felt there was nothing more to say.’’
Asked if she felt Cherry-Evans had lied to her and the Titans, Frizelle said: “I don’t feel I’ve been lied to (but) our loyal fans and supporters deserve lot more respect than what they’ve been shown.
“What has happened with Daly is not how we do business.
“The Gold Coast Titans have to move on now and that’s exactly what we will do.’’
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett hopes Cherry-Evans will not be booed when he runs on to Suncorp Stadium tonight.
“I can’t judge how people will react, we are all different, but he has made his decision,” Bennett said.
“He is moving on and the rest of us should too and just enjoy watch him play football.
“He’s a good footballer and I’m pleased he’s playing tomorrow for the game’s sake.
“It will be a relief for Daly. Football is what he does and when he runs on to the footy field tomorrow night, he will feel it’s where he should be.’’