I must say, it is pretty bitter sweet to be a Manly fan right now.
On one hand all this talk of player rifts has the potential to spell the end of the club’s famous decade-long finals streak in 2015, but on the other hand things couldn’t be going better on the field this year.
We sit in outright first place, with a left-side attack that would give even the competition’s best defensive centre nightmares.
If you only watch the games and stayed away from the papers then things would be looking pretty good.
Now, as Manly fans we are pretty used to reading articles that spell the end for this unique squad. In 2009 it was the season-launch incidents, in 2011 a lack of recognised halves (how silly that seems now), and in 2012 the team didn’t stand a chance without Des Hasler.
Last year the squad was considered over the hill, and don’t forget all the boardroom dramas fans have been forced to read about as well.
Despite all this the team is able to deliver on the field year after year, with 2014 being no exception.
This year’s problems stem from Glenn Stewart not being offered a contract beyond this season. As a fan it was disappointing that they couldn’t at least make him an offer but I have no insight on the club’s salary cap balancing act.
While they may have been able to offer him something, there is no point doing so if the best they could offer would offend the club stalwart.
The matter intensified when Manly re-signed Jamie Buhrer and Jesse Sene-Lefao. The fact that other backrowers have been kept has reportedly upset Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough and Steve Matai. I was ok with the club’s decision to do this as Buhrer and Sene-Lefao would demand nowhere near the money of Stewart, and with youth on their side we do have to think about the future.
All good things do come to an end and the club have been somewhat justified in their decision by the team’s form over the last two months. While Stewart has been out injured, Manly’s form hasn’t waned and the team have been able to continue their dominance without him.
While I have always been an admirer of Glenn, and appreciate his efforts in landing the 2008 and 2011 premierships, I also sympathise with the board, as it seems your damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
If you believe the papers then Manly could be lining up in 2016 without Daly Cherry-Evans, Brett Stewart, Matai, Watmough and Kieran Foran. While it’s unlikely all of them will leave, Matai, Stewart and Watmough want out now while the other two want to test themselves on the open market in 2015.
Coach Geoff Toovey has come out and said that no players will be getting releases, and as a fan I support his decision. But I might be being selfish.
Of all those wanting out I sympathise most with Steve Matai. Steve is in the form of his life and a four-year big money deal is much more appealing then the one year left on his Manly contract.
Form can peak and trough (with Barba being the best example of this), so if Matai has a drop in form playing at Manly next year then his price on the open market would drop significantly. So if Matai does want to go then maybe the club should let him.
One thing I would like to say to all these players as a fan is, what did we do?
While they might be unhappy with the board, they should think of the fans who have dedicated copious amounts of time and money in supporting the team. While they have to look out for their own interests, the longer it drags on the more the poor fans have to read about it in the press.
Brett Stewart in particular was always held in high regard and supported by the Manly fans in 2009 when the rest of the competition and rival fans turned their backs on him.
Hopefully this either all blows over or sorts itself out in the next few weeks, so the club can concentrate on winning their third premiership in seven years. They should have plenty of motivation, as this year could be the final time that they all play together.
mill
Guest
As a Newcastle fan I definitely know how it feels as a fan when there is turmoil at the club you support (I guess most fans know the feeling really) so I hope it blows over soon for Manly fans. I'm a South-West Sydney boy born and raised so I love to hate Manly at times (it's my duty lol) but in all honesty as a footy fan I enjoy watching them play. They play good, tough, fair footy in my opinion, and spend far less time looking for penalties to help them out than other teams at the top do *cough Roosters*. Always loved Toovs since his playing days too and who knew he'd be this fun to watch as coach. This Manly team deserves to go down as one of the great NRL sides and it will be the end of a very good era at Brookvale when the core of this team breaks up.
The Barry
Guest
Thanks planko. I think most manly fans are pretty empathetic with the players even though it must be gut wrenching at the moment. The authors suggestion that this group of players who have delivered a decade of success and taken unders to stay at the club somehow owe something to the fans is a joke.
George
Guest
Very right about the third party deals, they set up a very uneven playing field where there are only 5 or 6 teams that could win the comp these days. It gets difficult being beaten all the time. My team tries their hearts out, but are totally outclassed. Over a long period, how does that happen when each team is supposedly on the same salary cap?
George
Guest
It would be nice to see Manly struggle for a few years. How do they get away with their "us against them" mentality when they supposedly live in paradise, and have a few of the very best players in the game? Teams have to be careful how they treat their spiritual leaders, as it's a slippery slope if you discard them even though it's commercially wise to do so. How have the Raiders gone after booting Clyde and Sticky?
JimBob
Guest
I agree with both buster and Parrafan. The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax— Of cabbages—and kings— And why the sea is boiling hot— And whether pigs have wings It should be mandatory that League Management reward the playing years of their Long term Gladiators .It appears the Players Managers are as much to blame in this . The players in the upper $$ bracket should be able to manage their exit from the game, chasing more $$$ when you have reached your pinical seem wishful thinking..
MAX
Guest
Thank you Danny, Hope it does not become a problem for the team. RL needs a strong Manly and Canterbury. They do it best. See you in October. Best Regards, MAX
Tim Schuster
Guest
Kingy is going to retire this year. Will free up some room under the cap.
Danny
Guest
Hi Tom I agree that DCE is a huge part of the reason they have been successful but, conversely, how do you think he would've gone had he not had Watmough, G Stewart, B Stewart Matai, Foran in front of him, running off him and working with him? If you put DCE behind Parramatta's 2012 pack do you think he would be regarded as anywhere near the player he is now. Also, don't forget, he was found out badly in State Of Origin when he was given his chance and don't think that some of his (NSW supporting) Manly teammates weren't extremely happy to see him fail on the big stage.
Danny
Guest
Hi MAX, Yes, the comment was from an established first grader. I can't say much more than that as I don't want to reveal his identity but all the regulars at Brookvale Hotel will know who it is. His teammates, or "the playing group" as they like to call them these days, are really annoyed how DCE talks himself up in the media about "doing what's best for him" and about how he "doesn't know what contracts other players are on" etc when the rest of the senior players have been taking unders for years to keep the team together. The team is performing well now but it's a ticking time bomb for 2015 and beyond
Don
Roar Rookie
Or swap with Konrad Hurrell who's contract is also up at the end of 2015 and he will be under the pump when Matai arrives. Hurrell will cost Manly about the same or even less than Matai does today and is 7 years younger. Matai has apparently been offered $1M to go to the Warriors. Win win.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Two blights on the game contract wise are back ended contracts and third party sponsors. Back ended contracts appear to be the old "live for today and let tomorrow worry about itself". Be interesting to see what Manly's salary cap would like next year with back ended contracts up for Watmogh and probably Brett Stewart and Matai. If the reports are right all three could be looking at nearly q mil each. Third party deals are just as bad. Remember why Gasnier went to French rugby? the third party deal fell through. There have been similar reports of third party problems over the years. To be honest, most third party deals involve the top clubs not so much the strugglers.
Parrafan
Guest
Get them to pay Manly Matai's contract for the 2015 season, or at least a portion of it. That's how it usually works.
Midfielder
Guest
Its a balancing act with a salary cap... If you where in charge who are the 3 players Manly must keep ... and who can be let go to keep them... I remember when Manly let Fulton go to Easts the cries where very loud ... Manly must have said Foran, DCE and Brett Stewart are the players we must keep ... you just cannot keep everybody .. On Matai ... why should Manly release him to another NRL club ... other than he has been offered more money ...
Don
Roar Rookie
Manly shouldn't let Matai go at all until they negotiate compensation from the Warriors. This notion of letting a top level contracted player walk to a direct competitor is nuts. Personally I would be asking for a few hundred grand before he went anywhere.
planko
Guest
Barry I do .. I more than understand that G Stewart had to go. Matai has to go and chase the NZ dollars. Manly IMO should let him go with their blessing. Watmough is just angry that his deal was poorly thought through. Yes he will earn big bucks next year but a contract that ends when you are 32 is not good planning. He knows he only has 2 maybe 3 good ones left. He wants to sign a contract that see's him earning big dollars for all of that and some. The fact is he knows that in 2016 he will turn 33. How much will they pay for him in 2016 to 2018 no much but someone may pay 2.5 for 2015 to 2018 if he is lucky ?
maximillian
Guest
Yea I think thats why all the players are upset with the board. In 2011 Stewart shouldve been the 1st forward to win DallyM player of the year since Gavin Miller in 89 if not for his suspension for fighting Adam Blair. He was close to the best forward in the game & wouldve commanded top dollar if he tested his worth on the open market. Instead he chose to be loyal to Manly & his team mates for far less coin & now when its time to repay that loyalty the club cant even make him an offer? Its natural then for Matai/Foran/Watmough/B Stewart who have all taken unders to question if the board will do the same to them down the track, & if so, look for a release while they can still get good offers. As a Warriors supporter I would love to see Matai at my club but he is coming to the end of his career so I question if hes worth the price & a 4 year deal. In saying that, if hes worried about getting shafted from the board I can completely understand him trying to get the best deal he can & seeking a release to the Warriors.
Tom
Guest
The rest of the playing group needs to grow up quite frankly. DCE is a huge part of the reason they have been successful over the last 3 years. They have been terrible in games without him this season - witness the losses to the Broncos and Bulldogs. Ultimately, DCE is smart in seeing that as a league player, you have a limited career and need to set yourself up financially knowing you have forgone education and other career progression to play league, and will undoubtedly bear some physical impediments as a result. The club ultimately won't hesitate to cut a player if it is in their interest, and nor should players be afraid to go elsewhere if it is in their interest. Before anyone accuses me of being a Manly hater, I say this as someone who wept tears of joy when Beaver scored off the Mick Robertson offload in the 2008 Grand Final.
Parrafan
Guest
Agree with that Emcie.
Emcie
Roar Guru
It only ever seems to benefit the club, and even then only for the first couple years.
MAX
Guest
Hi Danny, Most RL lovers would find the " money grubbing weasel" comment highly disturbing especially if it came from a listed member of the team. Without naming any person, do you know if he is a regular first grader? I am a Canterbury man and have much respect for Manly.