It’s likely to be the last example of such a backflip, after the protracted and very public negotiations prompted the NRL to announce plans on Tuesday to scrap the round 13 rule.

However Manly indicated they would utilise it while they still could, and had been trying to lure Cherry-Evans back with the extra funds at their disposal following star five eighth Kieran Foran’s move to Parramatta from 2016.

The backflip is a timely shot in the arm for the Sea Eagles and their beleaguered coach Geoff Toovey as the injury-hit team wallows at the bottom of the NRL ladder.

For Gold Coast though, the news is a massive blow, as their halfback Aidan Sezer signed to join Canberra next year following the Titans’ deal with Cherry-Evans.

Gold Coast coach Neil Henry said on Sunday he’d had no contact with Cherry-Evans for six weeks.

The Titans have called a media conference for 2pm.