Manly’s central brick has been removed, and the wall could come tumbling down sooner than many think.
Yesterday’s announcement that Glenn Stewart had signed with South Sydney is a dagger through the heart of the Sea Eagles’ faithful. Manly fans are more than entitled to be seething.
How on earth did this happen?
Why couldn’t this so-called glamour club find a way to keep ‘Gifty’ Stewart on their books in an age when we are told third-party agreements regularly top up baseline contracts?
The Broncos don’t seem to have much trouble keeping their senior players on their books. Nor do the Bulldogs, Storm or Roosters.
If they really want you, they find a way to keep you. But Manly? No. Feel free to negotiate.
Perhaps they have a few too many established stars to keep happy alongside their superstar halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran.
They’ve got the other Stewart, Brett, who in my opinion is the best player in the joint.
When talking contracts, they’ve also got to look after the likes of Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough, Jason King, Matt Ballin, Jamie Buehrer and up-and-comer Peta Hiku.
We Roarers all have opinions and mine is that co-captain King or the talented but seriously butter-fingered Watmough would have been better players to offload than Glenn Stewart.
I do not know the ins and outs of Manly contracts, but whoever let G Stewart get to a position where he had to leave the joint needs a size 10 in the backside.
Anyone who has watched the Sea Eagles achieve what they have in the past decade must have noticed that man’s ball-playing skills and defensive steel. He has been an energiser bunny in maroon-and-white.
His one-two combination with brother Brett is just about the best in the NRL. It has repeatedly been uncanny, instinctive, and totally impossible to defend.
In my opinion, Manly has chosen not to upgrade one of the most important cogs in their machine, if not the most important.
Some are saying that brother Brett will be asking for a release in the wake of Glenn’s exit, even though he is contracted for another three years. I don’t really know about that, but I do know the freakish fullback will be severely pissed off that a greater effort was not made to keep his bro around.
In a nutshell, I think there will be a very special and concerted effort launched by the Manly players to win this year’s comp with both Stewarts and the ‘old gang’ on board.
That gang won’t be a part of 2015 or beyond. If you fancy a bet on football, I’d say have a flutter on the Sea Eagles today because tomorrow’s team doesn’t look anywhere near as potent. Manly will be men on a mission, they could become obsessed with winning one more title.
Having said that, I congratulate Souths for their astute signing – my mail was that he was Canberra-bound for certain, and my postie has been subsequently sacked.
He may well turn out to be the link they have been lacking between their forwards and backs.
The Rabbitohs needed a ball-playing forward who also does more than his share of defence. They have probably snared the very best in the rugby league world.
But back to Manly . . .
A player with Glenn Stewart’s skill-set cannot and will not be found at Brookvale for many a day. He is a major loss and I can only see a downward spiral for the Sea Eagles over the next few seasons.
You cannot remove the central brick and expect the wall to endure.
The Magic Man
Guest
This is a hatchet job created by the old administration and previous coach. Massive back ended deals that reached a crescendo in the 2014/15 seasons. The current admin and coach did not want to lose Glen. They sought exemptions from the NRL like the Roosters did for Mini but no exemption was forthcoming. Look at history & Manly have been losing at least one big name each year for the past 5 years. It's the price of success in the salary cap era. Although sad that a great Manly servant can't finish at the club he loves alongside his brother... that's the nature of the modern NRL. If Manly were allowed to keep all their stars well... what then is the point of the salary cap.
Muzz
Guest
Slater revolutionised the fullback position and B .Stewart now has it on a string.He should definitely be NSW number 1 with Hayne in the centres next to Jennings.
Devout Saint
Guest
I agree too that Brett Stewart is the best player at Manly. He is close to the best player in the game. Brett Stewart, Inglis and Slater are the 3 best fullbacks I have ever seen. Brett Stewart is the best exponent of the fullback playing the extra 5/8 role. I have seen numerous games where Manly were attacking brilliantly and were up by a good margin, then for Brett Stewart to go off and the points just dry up. They are a completely different team with Brett on the field to when he is not on the field.
JoeB
Guest
This article is written from the view point of a North Sydney Bears fan . Tim honestly how about something about the longevity and success of this team ? If this is all you have than you may need to contemplate retirement .
Sleemo
Guest
G Stewart hasn't played a good game since the 2011 grand final? Strongly disagree. You obviously didn't watch the prelim v Souths last year. Bad first 20 from him but he picked himself up, laid on our first points in reply then took the game by the scruff of the neck and led Manly to victory. Not to mention his stepping up big time last Friday with no DCE, no Watmough and 25% of Foran. Supreme. By the way, you miss the point re Watmough. His strength is and always will be his footwork, rather than his hands.
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
Hi Tim, I think you are over-reacting. The blow is not as serious as you suggest. If Glenn Stewart was 25 it would be a huge blow but he's on the wrong side of 30. I seriously doubt that not holding on to any 30+ player will be the difference between the catastrophic slide of a team or not. As those above have pointed out, Manly back loaded contracts and have the premierships in the bag to show for it. Manly fans recognise that we'll likely have a reasonably tough few years as the spine of the team move on/ retire but to be honest I'll cop that any day as we have had a great run. The priority is DCE and Foran now. We'll have to rethink our attack as Brett Stewart is the source of most of our tries but he's getting on anyway. With the Halves and the culture in place we'll always be a shout for the title.
Raugeee
Guest
Tim, I may be a bit behind the times, I thought 3rd party payments were all measured under the salary cap? You casually mentioned them as though they were thoroughly legitimate. Have I missed out on an important development?
Michael from kogarah
Guest
Well only time will tell if Brett wants to go just let him go but that will say a lot about him. look at the Morris brothers one is at the dragons and the other at the dogs. They didn't have any issues as they both play good footy and are talented players. There not the first and certainly not the last of brothers at footy which split up. It's quite sad that people have negativity al the rime about high profile clubs. They said the same about the coach and manly still made the finals. It's about coaching staff and players personas as if they want to succeed at the club a lot of effort and as they say hard yards are needed to be the best. Good luck Glenn hope all goes well at the rabbits and Brett it will be a stroke of bad luck if you follow suit but you will never find those bonfind 10 years at any club as you will only be a $number and not for who you are as the culture and friends you have made at manly are inseparable.
Mac
Guest
News flash, players switch clubs all the time, it's part and parcel of the modern era of sport. I for one love seeing established players switch and have to reestablish and in some cases reinvent themselves in a new environment. Nothing to see here really...
planko
Guest
Love the "overrated media darling" I think the whole family are Media Tarts ... See ya Bath Boy Where is my Stewart Brother.....
apaway
Roar Guru
Souths have got the deal of the century - they offload an overrated media darling in Burgess and get a genuine superstar in Glenn Stewart. These are the realities of the salary cap. But what chance a Manly-Souths Grand Final? :)
The spectator
Guest
EJ, I agree and that's where the sun shines to 2nd!!
Renegade
Guest
Yeah you could be right although i believe Buhrer is looking for more money though.... considering he is set to gain a starting spot, the money is the only thing that would make him leave Manly.
SeaEaglesAreGo
Roar Rookie
Glenn Stewart will be missed. He gave great service to a great club for many years. He is not the first, nor will he be the last, to be squeezed out due to financial constraints. If nothing else its a relief to put aside the speculation of the previous weeks regarding his future. Could well work in our advantage for this season. I can just hear the players now pumping each other up in the change rooms for the rest of the season with the catch cry "Do it for Gifty!" Hopefully he ends his career with Manly with another Premiership ring. Goodness knows he probably wont get one with the Bunnies.
eagleJack
Guest
Chee-Kam is only just back from an injury he suffered at the 9s tournament. I'd be very, very surprised if Buhrer goes to the Eels. Before the season started there was talk about them putting together a deal for him. It has popped up again today. To me it simply follows the media's rhetoric of there being a "mass exodus" at Manly which they have reported for years.
Ken
Guest
Agreed, Manly's track record says they've played the salary cap game very well. They're paying a price today but plenty of other teams have paid a similar price without achieving as much.
planko
Guest
Sorry you cap is spent on JT
Renegade
Guest
EJ, The likely replacement in Buhrer is set to return to Parramatta i believe... how is Chee-Kam going this year?
Graham Sanyo
Guest
Agree G Stewart is a plodder. Not sure where the Bunnies think they'll fit him into their pack. Can see him playing NSW Cup next year & seeking an early release. The Eagles will be all the stronger for letting him go.
eagleJack
Guest
For me it is still Brett Stewart. You only had to see how the team fell to pieces in the 2nd half against Melbourne to understand his worth to the side. In the first half they were world beaters. Afterwards they were NSW Cup standard. But a team containing Foran, DCE, Lyon, B Stewart, Watmough, Ballin, Lawrence, Taufua, Matai will still give the competition a shake for years to come.