Beaver to play on in 2008 http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22064656-5001023,00.html
By Dean Ritchie
July 13, 2007 12:00am
MANLY legend Steve Menzies last night formally announced he would play again in 2008 - and then declared he would be prepared to take a pay cut to ensure the Sea Eagles' long-term success.
Menzies - one of the NRL's most loyal players - will next Thursday hold a meeting with his manager Wayne Beavis, Manly coach Des Hasler and club chief executive Grant Mayer to discuss next year.
The former NSW and Australian forward will tonight come off the bench in Manly's bumper match against Wests Tigers at what will be a packed Brookvale Oval.
Asked whether he would be prepared to take a pay cut to remain at Manly for his 16th season and ensure the club can recruit and retain players, Menzies said: "I'd consider it for sure. There might be something we could work out.
"Manly has been good to me over the years and I've been OK with them too.
"It's something we could have a chat about."
Menzies, 33, may ask for about $250,000 for 2008 - but the club may not be prepared to outlay such money.
Manly may make an offer to Menzies of about $200,000.
Told Menzies may accept a reduced offer, Mayer said: "He's been a tremendous player for the club and that gesture shows you the type of person he is.
"We've been saying all year that when the time is right for Steve, we'll sit down and talk. It seems that time will come next Thursday.
"He's had a disrupted season through injury and I look forward to hearing from him about what he'd like to do next year."
Menzies is the greatest try-scoring forward of all time and the greatest try-scorer in Manly's 61-year history.
And Manly fans will be delighted that he wants one more season. "I'll speak to Des (Hasler) but definitely I want one more year," Menzies said.
"I'm still feeling good and I want to go as far as I can. I've had a couple of niggling injuries but the legs still feel good.
"I still feel I can run around and compete. I'll play on until I can't."
Tonight's match at Brookvale should be a cracker.
It will be a game of differing styles - Manly with their disciplined and regimented approach, the Wests Tigers ready to throw the ball around and play laterally.
The Sea Eagles will send out a star-studded backline including representative players Matt Orford, Brett Stewart, Steve Bell, Steve Matai and Jamie Lyon.
A magazine poll this week named Lyon as the game's most over-rated player, angering the Sea Eagles camp.
"Jamie Lyon has played for his country, he's played for his state and he's been playing great for us," Hasler said.
"He's kicked goals, he's scored tries and he's won us matches."
The poll in Rugby League Week also claimed that Manly were the NRL's most over-rated team - a statement the Sea Eagles will use for motivation tonight.
"It's a little odd, considering that we are sitting second on the NRL table," prop Jason King said.
