Having been cleared of any wrongdoing by the NRL in relation to drugs in sport scandal, Manly say their overwhelming feeling isn’t vindication – but rather sorrow for the sad state of affairs gripping Cronulla.
The head of the Sea Eagles’ supplement program, strength and conditioning coach Don Singe, said it was obvious that a club’s first priority was to look after its players.
However, he was reluctant to judge the Sharks for their alleged indiscretions.
Manly were one of six clubs who were the focus of the drugs in sport investigation, and like the Sharks, were linked to past dealings with sports scientist Stephen Dank and supplement salesman Darren Hibbert.
The Sea Eagles maintained their innocence throughout the saga, with Singe vigorously defending his reputation.
The NRL’s confirmation on Tuesday that the Sharks are the only club in their sights, has allowed Singe and the rest of Manly’s staff to get on with business.
Former Cronulla strength and conditioner Trent Elkin’s provisional de-registration by the NRL for failing in his duty of care during 2011, highlights the level of trust players put into those in charge of supplement programs.
Singe said the Sea Eagles have always maintained a transparent and diligent approach to their football department, under former coach Des Hasler and current boss Geoff Toovey.
“It’s very simple. You look after the men. You look after their welfare, you have a duty of care and you use commonsense,” he said.
“At this club, as we always said, there’s been a very, very rigorous process to supplementation of which I’ve always been in charge of.
“I think the way that the penalties have come about is because of governance and a lack of perhaps control in that area, of which I’ve always been confident we had great governance and great control.
“I don’t think it’s vindication (for Manly), because I think it’s still a sad state of affairs for the game.
“We certainly wouldn’t wish any penalties upon anyone, it’s a very difficult and complex situation.”
Elkin has been accused by the NRL of going behind the back of Cronulla’s then doctor David Givney to inject players with supplements.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has been provisionally sanctioned for failing to properly supervise the supplement program and take necessary action to stop it.
The NRL determined Cronulla had breached the game’s code of conduct due to poor governance, but the Sharks have declared they will fight all charges.
Singe didn’t wish to comment on Cronulla’s predicament, but said such alleged happenings couldn’t happen at Manly.
“We have a very, very transparent culture in the coaching crew,” he said.
“Both coaches (Hasler and Toovey) have always been very demanding of excellence. Both coaches are very hard workers, not a lot gets past them and we don’t ever try to get past them.
“We’ve always had a very strict process where our medical team is involved, that includes the physiotherapist and the doctor, and it’s just quite simple – if something doesn’t look right or if somebody doesn’t want to talk to somebody about a particular supplement then the red flag goes up.”
Barney
Guest
There is no cheating in the NRL. Never has been. Never will be. Every club abides strictly by the rules. I say do away with the Integrity Unit and let the clubs regulate themselves.
Bearfax
Guest
Dexter its important to remember again that this process has nothing to do with the NRL. Its a Commonwealth Govt initiative unrelated to any club and therefore as independent as can be achieved. The NRL may make a ruling against a team but it is entirely based on information they are receiving from ASADA. There is no room here for bias or conspiracy. For reasons as yet unrevealed, the Cronulla Club has been found like Essendon, to have failed to meet the requirements set down by ASADA. Its seems that other clubs have not been found to have acted inappropriately despite the association with Danks (that however may change...we dont know enough yet). Remember the Law does not state that you can be found guilty purely by association. Something Cronulla is alleged to have done was deemed inappropriate. Such a judgement was not made against other clubs despite their association with Danks et al. However, if you read between the lines, though the clubs have been exonerated, that does not say that individual players have been. There seem likely to have been allegations that certain players, without their clubs knowledge, may have been acting inappropriately and those findings are yet to be revealed. And they may come from Cronulla, Manly, Penrith, Parramatta etc. You see there are two levels here. The clubs and the players and they are not necessarily inclusive. I would be watching in weeks to come for individual players to face allegations of impropriety. Then you'll be seeing suspensions. Hopefully the number wont be large.
manlyman101
Guest
Yea because the rest of the Nrl teams are shining lights. seems we got a parramatta fan here
Bearfax
Guest
Amazing isnt it. And yet they keep wining
Bearfax
Guest
Yeh but I still say that the Dragons should be one premiership down and I think an investigation should be made into one of their premiership wins. That 1963 premiership win against Wests was a rort. Darcy Lawler, the ref made numerous questionable decisions in the match, all favouring St George. He was also a well known betting man. The NRL needs a full investigation into that one.
Ross Rheuben
Guest
Removed
81paling
Roar Rookie
How can any club be vindicated at this point? it appears that the NRL's investigations into the way medical supplements are distributed has been released and that one club i.e Cronulla did not have enough control over that. So Cronulla did not control the process correctly but the real question to be answered by ASADA is, was Dank supplying Cronulla with illegeal supplements for the 3 months he was there? and was he supplying Manly with illegal supplements for the 5 years he was at that club?
Muzz
Guest
Hahahah DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGONSSSSSSS : )
manlyman101
Guest
Don't quote the dragons default premiership please.
Arnold Kerwanty
Guest
What is interesting in all this ASADA media hype, is WADA are completely silent... WADA can do some real damage to any clubs chances of having a good season. Are they actively investigating player cases though? Nothing is being said.
Muzz
Guest
I hope not for the small % of Manly fans that are good sports but for those that wear the victims badge and believe that its Manly v the rest of the world which includes the NRL administrators.....well things may fall a little differently to 98..... Can always say that Shayne Hayne spiked the Gatorade i guess.......
Muzz
Guest
I remember and thats why it made it that much more sweeter...I remember 2010 season quite well. The best team all year(Dragons) and in the GF beat us fair and square, but we were the best side all year in 2013 and hence we are the premiers...You win some,you lose some,thats sport........
manlyman101
Guest
Amen! Love your work. That's exactly what happened, souths all year had help and tooveys blow up was dead on! Stores in redfern had recieved grandfinal merchandise. And then BOOM!!!!! MANLY! And then boom shane hayne. And now a gloating muzz who quickly forgets but don't worry I've informed him of his woeful clubs history. Ps which coaches was it again? Freddy.. Brian smith? (Also Nathan brown at the dragons)
belrose eagle
Guest
hey muzz yes u won 5 times this year congrats but remember all those whippings we gave u in the last 7 or 8 years we would have beaten u 5 times to but ur team wasnt good enough to get to the finals so we didnt get to thump u more than once or twice do u remember how many of your coachs were fired after playing manly yes u must be very proud and it was always going to be either easts or souths with the title the refs did everything they could to make it so but manly destroyed there big plan when we beat souths so it had to go to easts i give u the roosters the steven bradbury of the nrl hiphip hooray :)
belrose eagle
Guest
they wont take the 2011 trophy of manly if two players are guilty of doping remember newcastle in 98 and there drug scandal that saw a few players suspended for a couple of years i think it was a macdougle brother and robbie o not 100% sure but they didnt have to hand it back to manly
The eye
Guest
Exactly,give a statute of limitations for heavens sake,otherwise we'll still be waiting and tax payers paying for the next ten years..move it or lose it.
Bearfax
Guest
Well said Nathan. I think supporters of all clubs feel that way not only about Cronulla but about all clubs and players. We just want to get on with supporting our teams. You've had more thsn enough time to sort out any problems ASADA. Get on with it and lets deal with the consequences and repair the damage.
nathan
Guest
Look its as simple as this as a sharks supporter i will defend them till the day i die but like everyone else i just wish asada would get theyre finger out and charge us already, if players are banned so be it let us get some sort of team togetha before season starts, what new info do they have that they didnt have 3 months ago or are they on theyre xmas break already or are they waiting for more "funding" better known as pay rise
Bearfax
Guest
Another great Roosters supporter no doubt is Foghorn Leghorn (hope you're old enough to recall the Bugs Bunny extra), Foghorn loved to teach his genius son the best way to achieve things in life. Inevitably he would preface his comments with 'Boy....I say boy....that's not the way to win a premiership. You've got to develop your players over years of training lad. Breed them in the roost. Nurture them in the home .... You caint just go out an' expect to buy a premiership boy. T'aint done......boy's got less sense than a footballer at a Dunk Health Farm
Muzz
Guest
I wouldn't say 5-0 is much of a battle manlyman and your favourite line "bought not bread" from a fan of The Silver Tails, The Check Book Club Manly is just laughable.... Are you a little nervous about the ASADA report and your 2011 Premiership??? Im hearing that Watmough and Brett Stewart were a big part of the investigation.....