MANLY legend Geoff Toovey has called out the Sea Eagles and current coach Trent Barrett for a supposed “agenda” pushing their exile of young playmaker Jackson Hastings.

Hastings has been dumped from the NRL side and won’t be considered for first-grade selection again, after reports emerged of a rift between he and captain Daly Cherry-Evans and possibly other players.

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Cherry-Evans was fined $10,000 last week for an altercation with Hastings at a team hotel earlier in the year.

Round 20

But Toovey — who coached Manly but never coached Hastings — has made a stunning claim by suggesting the Sea Eagles have pushed Hastings to the outer for a much more sinister reason.

Toovey says Manly is trying to force the young playmaker out of the club in order to relieve salary cap pressure.

“Is there another agenda behind the scenes? It looks that way,” Toovey told Channel Nine on Sunday.

“They’re under immense pressure with the salary cap dramas and financial dramas.

“It (looks like) he’s been led out of the club or let go by the club so they can save some money.”

Toovey doesn’t buy the line from coach Barrett that he exiled Hastings because other players did not get along with him.

Senior players have reportedly thrown their support behind Hastings, while Addin Fonua-Blake and Brad Parker said publicly they had no issues playing alongside him.

“No-one likes everyone at work. You have to respect them but you don’t have to get on with them,” Toovey said

“From time to time there is a brouhaha or a punch up or an argument but you’ve got to kiss and make up and get on with things.”