ManlyBacker
Winging it
SALARY cap pressures seem certain to see young Manly back Shane Neumann released from the final year of his contract to ensure skipper Matt Orford remains at the club.
Shane Neumann could be released from the Sea Eagles for 2010.
The Manly Daily understands Neumann could be cut loose from his three-year deal to guarantee Orford and wingers Michael Robertson and David Williams remain at the club.
Orford has been in protracted discussions with the 2008 NRL champions and is close to signing either a two or three-year deal very soon.
Robertson and Williams are also bound to remain at Brookvale, with Neumann likely to be the fall guy, set to be squeezed out as early as this week.
Salary cap constraints mean a player must be released to ensure the NRL trio stay.
Manly co-owner Scott Penn would not comment directly on Neumann’s future.
Penn did confirm the young Queenslander is one “of a range of options” the club is considering to allow Orford, Williams and Robertson to stay.
“There’s a number of scenarios we are looking at,” Penn said on Friday.
“We need to get this wrapped up as quickly as possible.
“Hopefully we’ll have some news in the next week or so.
“We have certainly got some maneuvering to do.”
Neumann, 22, made a successful debut for Manly against Brisbane in May 2007, going on to play a further two games in the top grade.
He made one NRL appearance last year and was seen as a possible long-term replacement for ex-Queensland centre Steven Bell who departed at the end of 2008.
But Neumann didn’t have his best season this year, playing just three NRL matches, spending the majority of his time with the Sunshine Coast Eagles in the Queensland Cup.
Shane Neumann could be released from the Sea Eagles for 2010.
The Manly Daily understands Neumann could be cut loose from his three-year deal to guarantee Orford and wingers Michael Robertson and David Williams remain at the club.
Orford has been in protracted discussions with the 2008 NRL champions and is close to signing either a two or three-year deal very soon.
Robertson and Williams are also bound to remain at Brookvale, with Neumann likely to be the fall guy, set to be squeezed out as early as this week.
Salary cap constraints mean a player must be released to ensure the NRL trio stay.
Manly co-owner Scott Penn would not comment directly on Neumann’s future.
Penn did confirm the young Queenslander is one “of a range of options” the club is considering to allow Orford, Williams and Robertson to stay.
“There’s a number of scenarios we are looking at,” Penn said on Friday.
“We need to get this wrapped up as quickly as possible.
“Hopefully we’ll have some news in the next week or so.
“We have certainly got some maneuvering to do.”
Neumann, 22, made a successful debut for Manly against Brisbane in May 2007, going on to play a further two games in the top grade.
He made one NRL appearance last year and was seen as a possible long-term replacement for ex-Queensland centre Steven Bell who departed at the end of 2008.
But Neumann didn’t have his best season this year, playing just three NRL matches, spending the majority of his time with the Sunshine Coast Eagles in the Queensland Cup.
