The Daily Telegraph - Dean Ritchie
MANLY has a whopping $800,000 to spend on a five-eighth next season — but don’t try rushing coach Trent Barrett into a rash decision.
The Sea Eagles have plenty of cash in their salary cap after missing out on signing NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce.
The Daily Telegraph understands Manly offered Pearce about $850,000 a season but couldn’t come anywhere near the deal thrown forward by Newcastle.
With Blake Green having secured an early release to join New Zealand Warriors, Manly is now without a recognised five-eighth.
Barrett has money to spend but claimed he wouldn’t be bustled into a hasty decision and “waste” the cash.
It may well be that one of the existing halves at Manly — Lachlan Croker, Jackson Hastings or Cameron Cullen — step-up and partner Daly Cherry-Evans.
Manly will no doubt monitor which players find themselves on the open market, one option being discussed on social media was Newcastle’s Brock Lamb.
Barrett could bank the $800,000 for next season and then have an enormous tilt at a superstar the following season.
Pearce rang Barrett on Thursday to reveal his decision, the former Roosters halfback was almost apologetic.
Manly offered more than Cronulla but was well behind the Knights.
The Sea Eagles know player managers will be contacting them this week offering up potential halves.
“I just want to sit back and wait,” Barrett told The Daily Telegraph. “I’m not going to waste the money.
“I have a few options already at the club — Croker, Cullen and Hastings.
“If there is any fallout from the Mitchell Pearce decision … we will monitor that over the next few weeks and see what happens.
“We have some money, there’s enough there. It’s still only November so we’re in a good position.”
Manly was confident of signing Pearce but Barrett said he wasn’t going to enter a bidding war which would jeopardise the club’s salary cap.
“We put in a very strong offer for Mitchell. We were not going to get in a bidding war with any other club,’’ Barrett said.
“We had a good crack at him and thought he would have fitted in really well here at Manly.
“Mitchell was honest through the whole process and we wish him all the best. He’s a good person and a good player.
“We move forward with a very, very competitive playing roster for 2018 and onwards. We look forward to the year ahead.”
Manly released a statement on Thursday revealing the club had missed Pearce.
“On behalf of our members, fans and corporate partners, we made a serious effort to secure Mitchell’s services but there was always a limit to that offer in order to ensure our ability to continue to attract and retain the very best playing group over the years to come,’’ said Manly CEO Lyall Gorman.
“There are a number of very capable and exciting young players coming through our ranks and a major focus is to invest strongly in their development. We wish Mitchell every success in his future career.”
