NRL side in captaincy shake up following controversy as players want more popular figure
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Dylan Walker of the Sea Eagles scores try and celebrates with Sea Eagles team mates during the round fourteen NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys at Brookvale Oval on June 11, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire RUGBY: JUN 11 NRL Rd 14 - Sea Eagles v Cowboys Icon2106110060
Manly Sea Eagles are considering adding a co-captain to a leadership group that already has veteran Dale Cherry-Evans as skipper in an effort to re-unite the club.
The Sea Eagles had a PR disaster when during a league wide show of support for pride and LGBT rights, players boycotted the game as they protested the jersey which featured two rainbow coloured horizontal stripes instead of the traditional white.
It has been widely reported that there has subsequently been a huge rift left in the squad exacerbated by the recent coaching shake up.
Consequently, the Sea Eagles lost their remaining seven games with player unity and team cohesion playing a huge factor.
As such the team are considering making Jake Trbojevic co-captain alongside Dale Cherry-Evans to try and appease players.
In a report by The Mole, he explains that Trbojevic, is far more popular with the protesting players and so in an act of unity he may get the nod to be co-captain.
Whatever happens Manly need to put their dismal end to last season and their PR disaster behind them if they hope to have a more successful 2023 campaign.
They are not the only club in the NRL facing a captaincy shake up either.
That’s because Canterbury Bulldogs skipper Josh Jackson has recently retired and could be replaced as skipper by former St Helens star Luke Thompson.