Manly star Jake Trbojevic has reaffirmed his family's commitment to the Sea Eagles and rubbished claims of a supposed rift between the Trbojevic brothers and Daly Cherry-Evans.
Speaking for the first time since coach Des Hasler was controversially sacked earlier this month, Trbojevic said he and younger brother Tom never considered seeking an exit from their hometown club despite the drama engulfing the Sea Eagles in recent times.
"We definitely didn't want to [leave]; that didn't come from us," Trbojevic said.
"We love Manly and grew up in Manly and have another four years of contracts with Manly.
"It's definitely hard at times, seeing your loyalty get questioned when we've worked really hard and we want Manly to do well.
"[The Cherry-Evans rumours] are just silly. That was frustrating to hear.
"I don't like seeing it, and I'm a really good friend of Daly's. It's tough to see and I try not to think about it. It is ridiculous. It was fine, it's people making it awkward for us and it's fine.
"I don't know where that comes from."
It's been a tumultuous few months on the northern beaches, dating back to the club's Pride jersey and subsequent boycott from seven of the club's stars.
A seven-match losing streak to end the season followed, with the Sea Eagles missing the finals as a result and Hasler paying for the fall from grace with his job.
With the Sea Eagles trying to pick up the pieces, Trbojevic said there were no rifts in the playing group as a result of the boycott.
"When it first happened, I didn't understand it. I'm not religious. But like I've already said, I didn't understand it," he said.
"They have their view and I was fine with it. I understand their biggest thing is religion. My biggest thing is footy.
"The fact that we lost seven after has made people keep talking about it. Why are we going to dwell on it and let one game affect us moving forward?
"I don't want to lose seven in a row. It sucks.
"I felt sorry for [Des]. I'm a big fan of his and I don't think that's any sort of secret. He's been a really good coach for me for four years and I learned a lot off him and enjoyed playing under him.
"But I guess the club made the decision for a reason. We said last year wasn't great. So we're going to try and get better."
Former Broncos and Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold, a former assistant at Manly in Trbojevic's younger days, has been widely tipped to take over from Hasler.
"In 2016 he was my assistant coach and he's really good. I really liked him," Trbojevic said.
"He's a good guy who lives on the northern beaches. I've seen him around there a little bit and I really like working with him.
"He's worked extremely hard. And I was even talking to the guys who have had him at Souths and Brisbane. He was really good. So if he comes in, I'm looking forward to it."
Trbojevic is currently in England as part of Australia's World Cup squad, with the skilful prop pushing for inclusion for this week's quarterfinal clash with Lebanon.
