Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed he had pledged his NRL future to Manly beyond the 2015 season late last year, before a change of club management resulted in the deal being pulled.
Cherry-Evans broke his silence on his big money move to the Gold Coast on Wednesday, five days after he committed to the embattled Titans on a four-year $4 million deal.
Speaking on Fox Sports' Sterlo On The Couch, Cherry-Evans said a deal with Manly was "all but signed sealed and delivered" in October before a change in club ownership resulted in an overhaul of club management and a different contract.
"Yeah, it's funny to think, it really blows my mind, that I was all but signed, sealed and delivered with Manly," he said.
"When I look back at that situation and how close I was to staying at the club with a long-term deal, things really did get flipped on their head.
"Obviously management changed and the deal became restructured. And it just accumulated that I was given options to look elsewhere and that obviously enticed me."
Cherry-Evans said the first deal offered by previous management was superior to the one offered by the club under new CEO Joe Kelly, who took over from David Perry in late October.
The new Manly deal was pulled by the club last Tuesday, when the Sea Eagles had not heard back from Cherry-Evans' management.
The representative playmaker has been linked to a move to the Gold Coast this season, but Cherry-Evans wants to play out 2015 at Brookvale.
"I'll be making sure I honour my contract this season. As far as I'm concerned, and as far as I've been told, I have plenty of support from the coach and the playing roster, so I'll be doing whatever I can to see out this year and make it a successful one," he said.
Often painted as the scapegoat for the club's axing of club favourite Glenn Stewart last season, DCE denied he was a devisive force at Brookvale.
"I can only say that is a common misconception, I have received a lot of support from my teammates not only now but various times at the club when things have not been going well," he said.
"Surely you can't think it comes from within the playing groups so it is quite confusing where it all comes from.
"Obviously with the older management of Manly, they made decisions to move forward and move on certain players, such as himself and Glenn.
"Obviously they felt that had a lot to do with me and the club trying to keep me there. I don't think that is my fault personally, but I can understand why they had some disappointment and frustration in the whole situation."
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