EXCLUSIVE: Wally Lewis claims 'that's Manly' in club culture grilling amid DCE circus

League great Wally Lewis has taken aim at Manly's handling of Daly Cherry-Evans' contract saga as questions continue to linger over his future in the competition.

Cherry-Evans claimed he had become a target of a "nasty" smear campaign after he announced he would not be returning in the Manly jersey following the 2025 season.

The halfback insisted it would be a civil split with the club he's represented for 14 years, but the conversations that have followed have somewhat disproven that claim.

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The legacy left by Cherry-Evans has been called into question as some suggested the playmaker's looming decision to chase money elsewhere could tarnish his reputation.

Manly confirmed the club had not been blindsided when Cherry-Evans announced his departure live on Nine's 100% Footy, despite the initial belief the club was in the dark.

Lewis claims the overall handling of the saga by the club is somewhat "typical" to the culture of the Sea Eagles.

"When you put somebody up who has had a wonderful past but has a question mark over their future it just invites all the experts to come out and sink the boot," Lewis said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"A lot of people will suggest that that's Manly. It's what happens at the Silvertail territory.

"They do that to all of their players. They love them while they're there and when they go, they really do put that boot in.

"(Manly need to) get it out of the way and stop it (from) effecting every game.

"It is putting even more pressure on DCE."

Cherry-Evans' future destination in the NRL remains unknown, with several clubs confirming they will not be entering the race for his signature.

The Bulldogs, the Broncos and the Titans were among the first to withdraw interest in signing the halfback, with the Dragons and Rabbitohs also opting out of contention.

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The Roosters' Trent Robinson or the Dolphins' Kristian Woolf could be next in line to coach the 36-year-old, though no deal has been inked by Cherry-Evans with either club.

Although the Cherry-Evans saga seemingly has not impacted Manly's performance, Darren Lockyer called for the club captain to put an end to the speculation.

"It will be a distraction [until his future is sorted]," he said.

"The only way all of this speculation and the hypothetical smear campaign is going to die down is once we know where DCE is going.

"I still can't understand why - is Daly on the open market or has he done the deal? That's what is starting to confuse me.

"If the deal is already done then why aren't we announcing it."