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Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis has reignited a fiery debate surrounding Daly Cherry-Evans' future at Manly, drawing parallels to a controversial past event involving Wendell Sailor and the Brisbane Broncos. Tallis' stark warning, delivered with characteristic candour, suggests that Sailor's abrupt departure from the Broncos in 2001 created a destabilising ripple effect that ultimately hampered the club's performance. He believes a similar scenario is unfolding at Manly with Cherry-Evans.

The original fallout from Sailor's exit saw the Broncos, then considered a powerhouse in the NRL, struggle to maintain their dominance. Tallis, a key figure in the Broncos’ team at the time, vividly remembers the disruption and uncertainty that plagued the club. He argues that the sudden loss of a player of Sailor's calibre, coupled with the circumstances surrounding his departure, created a climate of instability that impacted team cohesion and on-field results.

“When Wendell left, it wasn’t just about losing a player,” Tallis explained in a recent interview. “It was the way he left. The drama, the speculation… it all took a toll. It unsettled the whole club.” He then directly linked this historical event to the current situation at Manly, where speculation continues to swirl around Cherry-Evans' potential move to the Dolphins.

Tallis' comments come amidst ongoing rumours that Cherry-Evans is considering a lucrative offer from the Dolphins. While Manly officials have publicly expressed their desire to retain their captain, Tallis believes the situation mirrors the Broncos' experience two decades ago. He cautions that allowing a star player to leave under a cloud of uncertainty could have detrimental consequences for the club's future.

“Manly needs to be incredibly careful,” Tallis warned. “They can’t afford to let Daly’s situation drag on. If they lose him, and it’s messy, it’ll be like what happened to us with Wendell. It’ll create doubt, it’ll fracture the team, and it’ll be hard to recover.”

The comparison is particularly poignant given the similarities in the circumstances. Both Sailor and Cherry-Evans are established leaders and key figures in their respective teams. Both situations involve significant financial incentives and a degree of public scrutiny. And both raise concerns about the potential for disruption and instability within the club.

While Tallis acknowledges that every situation is unique, he believes Manly would be wise to learn from the Broncos’ past mistakes. He urges the club's management to address the situation decisively and ensure that Cherry-Evans' future is resolved in a way that minimizes any negative impact on the team.

Ultimately, Tallis’ comments serve as a stark reminder of the importance of player management and the potential consequences of allowing star players to depart under less-than-ideal circumstances. The question now is: will Manly heed his warning and avoid a repeat of the Broncos’ painful history?