The Gold Coast Titans have been left bitterly disappointed after star half Daly Cherry-Evans reneged on his contract to re-sign with the Manly Sea Eagles.
Titans head coach Neil Henry noted his disappointment in the playmaker's decision in a press conference this afternoon.
"I'd be lying if Isaid I wasn't disappointed given the conversations I've had with him before. It has affected our recruitment for the future a little bit."
The Queensland and Australian half Cherry-Evans had up until the end of round 13 next week to change his mind about joining the Titans, and he decided to stay with the Sea Eagles on a "lifetime contract", reportedly set to be the most lucrative deal in NRL history.
"You'd like to think that anyone when they make a commitment that they honour that commitment but he for his own reasons hasn't done that and we'll move on," said Titans CEO Graham Annesley.
"All the way along we trusted that contract's been in place - we weren't ever going to be in the business of harassing him or seeking assurance after assurance."
Cherry-Evans' deal had a significant impact on what the Titans were willing to offer key departing players Nate Myles and Adrian Sezer, with Annesley noting how the impact of his loss will be crucial.
"We were up here operating on the assumption that Daly would be with us next year. The impact has been significant because he's such a marquee player the recruitment strategy was built around it.
"Credit to our board to get a deal together to entice him north and we did a deal with his manager that was quite complex."
The Titans have dismissed suggestions they may try and get Sezer back as "double standards", with the young five-eighth having agreed terms with the Canberra Raiders for next season.
The Titans currently 13th on the NRL ladder, and were hoping that Cherry-Evans' signature would help boost their fortunes for next season and beyond. Henry was left to rue the decision, which now sees the Titans scrambling around to find other halve options for next season.
"He's made his decision and that's it, we just have to move on."
