RE: Watmough
This is "my take" on the story, so I say from the start I don't have a source as such, although as I say above when talking to Giggy he laughed it off and said the media are making a LOT more out of the story than exists.
For whatever reason the Eagles couldn't fit Gifty into their 2015 plans and beyond....I did read at the time he wanted a 3 year contract, and I think we all realise he's getting to the latter end of his career so I can understand them not agreeing to that.
We have some fantastic young Kids coming through, Gutho, the Turbo brothers to name a few, and unless they are upgraded they will leave...and they, along with current young guns Cherry/Fozzie/ Hiku/Tafua / Blair are OUR FUTURE, so you can probably appreciate the retention committee (assume that would be Tooves/Warwick/Perry) would be looking at these guys (with years to play), verses Gifty right at the end of his career.
And don't forget Manly in the past have let players like Bozo / Vautin go all in favour of keeping the future young guns.
So I think the money was used to upgrade them rather than give Gifty 3 years at the money he wanted.
Now rightly so Brett would be peeved off that he couldn't finish his playing days with his brother, and Choc (who isn't the smartest tool in the shed) would just go along as they have been mates for 12 years.
So we then get a bit of "sabre rattling", and no doubt the player managers are a part of this as well.
BUT lets face it, Brett and Choc are Manly through and through, Choc was made a Life Member of the club last year and you can only but imagine Brett will be made the same very soon, after all he is the "Prince of Brookvale" and is one of the two greatest fullbacks in the clubs history.
BOTH are on big money, and for Choc exceptionally big money next year due to the backended deals , so considering that for Gen Y's it is "all about the money" why would Choc cut off his nose to despite his face, put simply he wouldn't and as such will stay.
Making comments like "its up to the club to decide" is crap, he has a contract, he's on big money its NOT up to the club to decide they decided when they gave him a big contract a few years ago!!
The throw away lines at training last week are simply the boys playing with the media, nothing else, this is a relative storm in a teacup!
I'd say both have settled down a bit, realised that the club has to renew itself, and realised that they are a part of the very fabric of the club at present and as such are more than likely to have a job post career.
Its really just the media, and the social firestorm that's keeping this story alive, if it wasn't for them it would be "business as usual".
Many on here (and elsewhere) want to blame our slight form slump on "internal issues", well listening to Toovey, some of the players (on the stage) and talking to a number of them on Sunday night I'd suggest its simply that they cannot keep playing at a consistent 5 star level all year, yes they know they are not 100% at present BUT they also know how to lift when the time comes.
Now I confirm again these are MY OPINIONS only, take from them what you will.
