When will the drama at the Manly Sea Eagles end?

According to the Daily Telegraph's Buzz Rothfield, if Trent Barrett leaves the Manly Sea Eagles, which we all expect him to considering he has reportedly handed in his resignation, then there is a chance that skipper Daly Cherry-Evans asks for a release from his contract.

Yes, you did read that correctly. The second half of Buzz's rumour has DCE heading up to Brisbane to play.

Cherry-Evans is in the middle of a 10-year contract at the club which is reportedly worth $1.3M per season according to Zero Tackle.

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Surely, regardless of all the issues going on at the club, DCE would have to be crazy to ask for a release out of his deal which lasts until the end of the 2022 season.

Buzz isn't so sure.

"Trent Barrett and Daly Cherry-Evans are extremely tight," Rothfield said on NRL 360.

"If there's one thing you can say about Trent Barrett, he's tight with all the players there, but particularly Cherry-Evans.

"He supported him earlier in the year when there was drama up at Gladstone, he supported him when Cherry-Evans had problems with Jackson Hastings.

"I'll tell you what I think this might lead to. I think if Trent Barrett goes, I reckon we could have a situation on our hands where Daly Cherry-Evans could even ask for a release.

"There was a rumour doing the traps, and I stress it's only a rumour, that it would be a great buy for the Brisbane Broncos.

"He's a Queenslander and he won't want to stick around if Trent Barrett is not there."

Daly Cherry-Evans took a veiled swipe at Manly's hierarchy after Friday night's capitulation against Gold Coast, threatening to share 'strong opinions' on the club's dramas.

Those strong opinions have now been aired in greater detail, with the Sea Eagles skipper throwing his support behind coach Trent Barrett, and suggesting the club executives have questions to answer.

"I don't know if Trent has the support (of the board)... but for things to have not changed after numerous requests, I don't understand why," Cherry-Evans told Fairfax Media.

"I'd like to think our coach has never been the problem. The fact he feels he's in a position where he has to question a few things with our hierarchy puts into perspective how much he cares about this playing group.

"I can't speak on behalf of everyone, but the coach has my support 100 per cent."

Ben Ikin couldn't believe what he was hearing from the skipper.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Barrett has given his notice," Ikin said.

"In the foreseeable future, and I think maximum 12 months from here, he will not be the Sea Eagles coach, and there's a view that the end date might get brought forward.

"Yet, Daly Cherry-Evans in an interview over the weekend came out and supported his coach, and I'm wondering why he felt the need to do that?

"If Barrett won't be there, and Cherry-Evans has to remain and work with the board that he's said isn't supporting Trent Barrett enough, that can't be a smart move from the skipper."

Paul Kent disagreed with Ikin.

"I think it's a good move," Kent replied.

"Good on DCE for supporting his coach."