Steve Matai set to hang up the boots

Steve Matai’s ongoing neck and shoulder problems appear to have finally taken their toll with the Manly Sea Eagles centre set to hang up the boots a season early.

Matai still has another year to run on his contract, but his recovery from off-season surgery hasn’t gone as well as hoped. Matai has reportedly received medical advice that he should retire and, according to the Sydney Morning Herald his management is now negotiating a termination agreement with the club.

Unlike former Parramatta forward Anthony Watmough, who retired earlier this year, it is likely that insurance will cover the pay-out for the final year of his contract.

An official statement from both parties is expected imminently.

Matai is a fan favourite at Manly and has played all of his 229 NRL career games with the club. The 32-year-old won two premierships with the club, played ten Tests for the Kiwis and earned a reputation as one of the NRL’s biggest hitters during his 11-year career.

2016 was a difficult season for the enforcer, however, with injury restricting him to just eight appearances.

Matai’s retirement would leave the Sea Eagles desperately short on outside backs for the 2017 season. Former captain and centre Jamie Lyon has already announced his retirement, utilities Nathan Green and Jamie Buhrer have departed the club and versatile back Tim Moltzen retired earlier in the season.

Potentially compounding matters further is the rumoured interest in Jorge Taufua from cashed-up Super League club Warrington Wolves. The Wolves are reportedly torn between Manly winger Taufua and Wests Tigers centre Kevin Naiqama. With Jamal Idris officially joining the Tigers yesterday, it’s now more likely for Naiqama to head overseas than Taufua, despite both players being under contract for 2017.

There are also doubts about Brett Stewart’s future at the club following the rise of youngster Tom Trbojevic, who excelled at fullback at the back end of the 2016 season.

To fill the void, the Sea Eagles are said to have their sights set on two Penrith backs, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Dean Whare. While the Panthers would like to keep them both, it’s likely one of them may shift from the foot of the mountains given the number of quality young three-quarters on their books. The Panthers are also feeling the pressure of the salary cap following upgrades and extensions to the contracts of captain Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright.

Both Watene-Zelezniak and Whare are New Zealand internationals, and Whare is no stranger to the Manly set-up having played 26 games with the peninsula outfit from 2010-2012.

The Sea Eagles go into their 2017 campaign without several other key players including Josh Starling, Tom Symonds, Siosia Vave, Liam Knight and Blake Leary.

In addition to Akuila Uate, Manly have also added former Bulldogs and Warriors forward Shaun Lane and Storm pivot Blake Green, which should allow Dylan Walker to shift to the centres on a permanent basis to help add depth to the three-quarter line.