It’s the ultimate rugby league irony: Manly whinging about being pillaged by a cashed-up rival from Sydney’s west.
But there he was on Friday, Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn questioning the integrity of a Canterbury club picking off members of Manly’s backroom staff one by one.
Penn’s swipe came as the Sea Eagles sacked coach Des Hasler, claiming a breach of contract for his alleged role in luring key staff to Belmore ahead of his arrival there in 2013.
Recruitment guru Noel Cleal and assistant Kelly Egan are confirmed defectors, but more are thought to be in the pipeline.
Penn was asked whether the Bulldogs had acted inappropriately in scavenging the NRL premiers’ ranks.
He didn’t have to utter a word – the pause before he spoke said it all.
“It’s probably too difficult to say, without pointing fingers,” Penn finally said.
“But certainly when you have significant numbers of your football staff approached there’s questions over the integrity of that.”
While there’s little doubt much of Penn’s grievance is with Hasler, it’s clear he is also unhappy with the Bulldogs, not least for their decision to announce their deal with Hasler for 2013 and beyond just days after Manly’s premiership triumph.
But dig a little deeper and it appears Penn and the Sea Eagles are upset at the systematic approach the Bulldogs have taken to buying up the brains of Manly’s operation.
This from a club which built its reputation as the `Silvertails’ in the 1970s and 80s after using it’s financial capacity to lure top talent to the northern beaches, particularly from bitter rivals Western Suburbs.
Now the shoe is on the other foot.
“Contracts are in place for a reason – if someone doesn’t have a contract then they’re probably fair game,” Penn said.
“That’s something the Bulldogs took advantage of, trying to take advantage of contractual situations that may or may not have been there.
“In a competitive landscape that’s probably OK – I guess it’s just the manner in which it’s been done.”
The Bulldogs refused to buy into the debate, keeping their comments strictly on Hasler’s role with the club.
While Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg said Jim Dymock remained the club’s coach for 2012, it is assumed Hasler’s deal – which was due to begin in 2013 – will be brought forward a year.
“We will continue to offer Des our full support as he works through the options available to him, and we will meet with him at an appropriate point in the future,” Greenberg said in a statement.
“It is worth noting at this point that our plans for 2012 are unaffected by today’s developments.
“Jim Dymock is doing a fantastic job and together with his football staff he has the squad well positioned in our pre-season campaign.”
Bearfax
Guest
If you like I'll go further into their history. But just a few notables in the past and from present area. Terry Lamb (ex Wests) Andrew Ryan (ex Parramatta) Mark O'Meley (ex Northern Eagles - Manly) Brett Hodginson (Manly) Brett Kimmorley (Cronulla) Daryl Halligan (ex Norths before their demise) Josh Morris (St George) Michael Hodgson (Gold Coast) Kris Keating (Parramatta) Of course this doesnt include players grabbed from others juniors such as Braithe Anasta, Ben Roberts etc. No Canterbury are far from being squeaky clean.....and as I said that's just business and good luck to them. All I was trying to say was the mud thrown at Manly could stick on virtually any team in the comp. I was merely stressing that the 'bad boy' role Manly has is a media creation initially developped by Masters and now taken on by all comers and quite frankly in the last half a decade without justification.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Rubbish Bearfax. What do you mean "stolen" ? You've named one player in the past 40 years. Over most of that time the Bulldogs recruitment focus has been on identifying and signing talent from the bush - not "stealing" other clubs players. From the 1970s - 90s they did this arguably better than any other club. They were also one of the first clubs to have scouts over in NZ identifying and signing untried talent. The Dogs have had many, many more players "stolen" from them than they have pinched over the years. I'd say "get your facts right" but you haven't actually presented any. Mals - the Broncos made the choice not to sign Stagg, Ennis and Hannant for the 2009 season and Wayne Bennett was actually the one that referred them to the Dogs. Eastwood had signed with an ESL club but had visa problems - and the Dogs offered him a one year deal. There was no plundering or looting of another club at all. Manly's problem is all their own doing. They had / have a brilliant set up, great cultire and completely loyal staff but board members more interested in getting their own heads on TV stuffed it all up. If the Manly board hadn't completely alienated Hasler et al the Dogs (or anyone else) wouldn't have had a snowballs chance of signing them. I've never seen a premiership so overshadowed by nonsense. Manly had a brilliant year but immediately after the GF all the talk was "what did Brett Stewart say to Gallop, what did Gallop say to Glenn Stewart?" and now the Hasler drama. You can't blame others for self-destructive behaviour.
Mals
Guest
Exactly Canterbury became the Sydney Broncos after the 2006 GF win by Brisbane meant they couldn't retain players.
Midfielder
Guest
+ 999999999999
Bearfax
Guest
Canterbury are hardly a paragon of Westy virtue as suggested by this article and many of the indiscretions Manly are castigated over were equally performed by the Bulldogs...its just that it wasnt good media fodder to promote. People seem to forget how many players Canterbury have stolen over the years starting with the very talent Bob McCarthy from that great Souths '71 team (Easts shared in the plunder with Coote and Cleary). But Manly wore the wrath because they won the '72 premership with South's imports. Sure Manly hardly has the right to be calling 'foul' over Canterbury's good business nous. But cut the rubbish about Canterbury being in any way some 'poor Westie club'. They have been and continue to be one of the wealthiest clubs in the league and have been plundering other teams players for as long and perhaps longer than Manly.
Adrian
Guest
I bet Manly finish higher than Canterbury next season. Manly still have a strong squad and if the Bulldogs want to buy any Manly players for 2013 they're going to have to release a fair few players next season. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Robbo
Guest
Todays article on Crusher explains the entire scenario by a man from the old school who has got integrity in his viens.......he said the Manly chairmen Reilly was about to take over all negotiations on recruitment and followed it up with this entire subject could of been closed last April if they (Manly board) had of given Des a contract and said how long do you need........I Robbo not Crusher feel the entire board should stand down with a new board voted in asap.