Parramatta back-rower Anthony Watmough has lit the touch paper for an explosive clash with Manly on Friday by claiming there was a toxic environment around his former NRL club last season.
Watmough, who won two premierships with the Sea Eagles and is a life member of the club, made an acrimonious exit from at the end of last season to join the Eels where he said he feels more welcome that he did at the Sea Eagles in 2014.
“Manly was my home for so long, but it didn’t feel like my home any more,” Watmough told Fox Sports’ Sterlo On The Couch show.
“I’ve been lucky to come out to a club who’ve embraced me as one of their own and I couldn’t ask for any more. I feel like I’ve been here my whole life.”
Manly also lost Glenn Stewart to South Sydney after the club failed to offer the NSW back-rower a new deal, and Watmough said that decision was endemic of what was wrong with the club at the time.
The Penn family are now the sole owners of the club after completing a takeover late last year and installing Joe Kelly as chief executive as the replacement for David Perry, who was shown the door.
“The fans aren’t stupid and they knew there was a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes,” he said.
“We were made to look a certain way and luckily for the club that side of the board has gone and there is no more a toxic environment and hopefully they can still be successful – but not as successful as us.”
Sea Eagles prop Willie Mason claimed Watmough’s comments were designed to stir up his new teammates and said he cannot wait to get involved in what is sure to be a bruising contest at Parramatta.
“There’s not much talk about what ‘Choc’s’ saying, everyone is sort of saying `just let Choc talk, that is what he is going to do to get his team wound up’,” Mason said.
“It’s a totally different environment this year, with the new board. It will be exciting out there, everyone will be out there trying to bash each other, then we’ll be stuffed on the sideline.
“These are the games you live for and why I am 34 and still playing.”
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Good on Willie. One of the last top value characters left in the game. His last sentence is pure gold Willieism.
Liatrevlis
Guest
Toxic , ???? A great coach once warned Choc of his misdemeanours , remember ! Well could it be the radioactive waste has already departed ,
Kingcowboy
Guest
Is Mr Watmough being paid a fee for promoting this game? I strongly dislike both these teams but I am really looking forward to this game because of Choc. Should be a cracker!
The Barry
Roar Guru
All class.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
All part of the theatre, Choc certainly doing his best to ensure there will be plenty of feeling out there! Not a good thing for Lussick who tends to get a bit over excited and might spend a few on the sidelines after :)