Manly coach Geoff Toovey has maintained his stance that the NRL club have nothing to worry about over the ASADA investigation, saying he’s glad Darren Hibbert has reportedly agreed to be interviewed by the anti-doping body.
Speculation is mounting that the NRL could announce sanctions on Wednesday, with Cronulla’s 2011 supplement program the issue most under the microscope.
NRL chief executive David Smith has been consulting with ASADA officials in Canberra ahead of Wednesday’s ARL Commission meeting, after which it’s speculated an announcement could be made.
The common link between Cronulla and Manly throughout the investigation, has been their past connection with sports scientist Stephen Dank and Hibbert, a supplement sales representative who had links with Dank.
Throughout the 11-month drugs in sport saga, several Manly players have reportedly been interviewed by ASADA, however the club has stood firm in the belief that their program has always been clean.
Toovey said on Tuesday he’s confident nothing’s changed.
“We’re all really positive here. We’ve got great systems in place and we’ve got great people in place as well so we haven’t got a problem,” Toovey said.
“It’s gone very quiet actually over the past couple of months. (The game) is keen to get to an outcome which has just been floating around the ether. Every rugby league follower and fan want something to happen.
“I don’t really care what he (Hibbert) has to say really. I’m glad he’s coming forward and is telling whatever it’s he has to tell. I have no problems with that.”
Despite the damage the NRL has sustained in 2013, Toovey is confident the game will bounce back regardless of any findings and punishments announced.
“I think it already has,” he said.
“I’m a great believer that we’ve all got a duty to look after the game as a whole and that’s all we do here at Manly and we’re hoping things work out well for whoever is involved.
“As long as the truth comes out and we can get on with our business.”
At training on Tuesday, Manly star Steve Matai said the playing group were looking forward to the drugs in sport saga coming to a head.
“We’re sick of hearing about it really and I just hope everything gets sorted,” he said.
Bigjohn
Guest
I seem to recall a former Manly player, now in England, going public and saying they had injections at a players house. I do not believe that there was any suggestion that Hasler knew or approved about that . I do not have a lot of time for Hasler or Manly, but just don't get the feeling that he would put up with that rubbish.
Bigjohn
Guest
Soapit, no need to bring the same sex marriage debate into this. haha
uPelican
Guest
Badseed speaks the truth.
81paling
Roar Rookie
I am no Roosters fan but, Manly was beaten 5 times last year by the Roosters, all were good contests but, on all occasions the Roosters were clearly a better side than Manly. As for the man of the match decision well with Bob Fulton on the 5 man panel with the decision made 17 minutes prior to the end of the match it is clear that no credibility can be given to this decision and therefore should never be raised as an argument by anyone with any credibility in a forum such as this. It is little wonder that the vast majority of the 80,000 average NRL fans at the ground boo'd at the decision. It seems clear upon reflection that it was not the player they were booing but, the decision (perhaps upon reflection with some justification despite the fact that booing is a distasteful practice) and the decision making process. It is time this one went to bed, the Rooster's were the best team last year consistently. The record stands that they beat Manly 5 times that year and no amount of knit picking can undo that. Manly will have another go next year and they had a good season but, they were not the best team. For Manly fans it is simply time to say congratulations to the Rooster's and we look forward to playing you (and hopefully beating you) next year.
81paling
Roar Rookie
What have you seen Ian? one of the more frustrating things about this hole thing is that ASADA reveal very little, Cronulla were weak and disorganized and therefore panicked which has led to them being very easy targets for a government organisation facing pressure to produce results. Manly it appears have produced no historical procedural documents that can be creditably verified but have consistantly said that they have evidence that no mal practice has ever taken place and the entire club stands together united. This makes Manly a far harder target for ASADA (who is looking for easy targets and headline convictions to justify their existance) than Cronulla and therefore it looks as if no matter what has happened Manly will be left alone, However Ian if you have anything that contradicts this please let us know as if there is clearly no case for Manly to answer after all this time then there is a case for ASADA to answer to.
Barney
Guest
If ASADA makes findings against Manly, Toovey will be looking to borrow Bozo's cement truck.
Muzz
Guest
Your hilarious : )
manlyman101
Guest
Also moa drops the ball just before guerra scores.. does anyone say anything? No no they do not. Cherry man of the match proves it all manly owned shane hayne decided the game the world goes on but we don't forget.. ever. Rooster bottom 8 next year were they belong before they bought two origin players and an international show pony and a Orange tanned ref.
manlyman101
Guest
Ah muzz my new friend. The amont of wrong calls that went your way was twice that of manly. Mr badseed knows the gf was a shambles as do most Nrl fans bar roosters fans. Why did cherry get man of the match. Why when pearce knocks it on at the 4th minute is it not a knock on then minutes later in a one on one tackle he has his hand all over the ball causing it to come loose only for shane hayne to call it a roosters ball? On manlys 20??? Instead of reverse? How come when Lyon grubbers it and it clearly hits Jennings and goes out does nobody see it? Why doesn't the video ref do his job? That disgusting forward pass? The headbut? why doesn't aubusson get ten in the bin? How is it a try when the guy never lays a hand on it? Why no 8 points? Since when can you blatantly take out players jumping for the ball? More than three times ? Why why why
Muzz
Guest
JB, Your a funny man...
john badseed
Guest
What about Manly only being 9m back on the 54th tackle of the second half. Shonkiest GF result ever and will always be remembered as such. Stay in de Nile, it's right next to the Suez.
Muzz
Guest
So is it the Roosters forward pass try that your talking about or the Manly penalty try that should of been a penalty (not a penalty try as Wally Lewis also pointed out )with Aubusson sent to the sin bin and the Taufua try that should of been disallowed after Horo ran the decoy and took Pearce out or when Williams took Jennings out near the Manly try line and Hayne missed that one to.The Irony of Lyons being taken out is that it is normally Lyons taking out the chaser and getting away with it. In one the of the best GF's i have watched the Roosters were the better of the two sides for the majority of the game and was the fourth time this year that the Roosters defeated Manly so the better team all year and on the day won the grand final... No conspiracy just sour grapes.
john badseed
Guest
The only 'probe' needed at Manly was Hoppa. Over, done, irrelevant. Now 2013 GF rort is a much more probable issue. Lets have ICAC have a look at criminality in this issue. Lots of money involved in decisions made during the game. Worse than Fine Cotton saga with gambling involved. add CH 9's involvement and we have a major conspiracy.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
+1
soapit
Guest
would imagine trying to be at ease when being probed is the best strategy for all concerned
seajay23
Guest
"Manly at ease of ASADA probe"? What sort of English is this? At ease about, at ease over, at ease regarding; all fine, but at ease of? Come on Roar, show some basic respect for our language and particularly the use of prepositions, it's not that hard!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Mals, Agreed - everything ive seen had Manly use Dank as a consultant, and then route his suggestion through a real doctor that had veto rights and (apparently) had read the WADA code. This was not the case at Cronulla or Essendon.
Mals
Guest
I think the difference between Manly & Cronulla is that Des Hasler ran a tight ship at Manly (control freak) & was informed of Dank's practices e.g. the use of calves blood. At Cronulla Dank had more "free reign" where even the club doctor was not kept up to speed with Dank's supplements program.
Marldon
Guest
That is very good to hear but I hope that it is not just a cover up. The shonkies keep bleating about how dank was only at cronulla for 11 weeks but at Manley for years, were Manley's controls / people that much better ?