Brett Stewart wants to stay at Manly— for at least three or four years

[Kiwi Eagle]

I wonder if the Cowboys forum sits there and talks about moving Thurston on because he is 32

 

[Simonmyers11]

I still feel snake has 2 good years left in him after this one easily (possibly 3?). Extend his contract for 1 more year with the option of a 1 year extension depending on form/injuries.So retires end of 2017. This wont hold back Cutherson or Tom. I'd rather still have snake back there over Hiku for the next 2 years. Hiku's only good position is full back (but Tom T will be long term full back). Cutherson will end up in the centres when he fills out a little and improves his defence in the centres. I wouldn't mind seeing manly not re-sign Hiku and go after a specialist centre to replace Lyon/Matai. Maybe keep Cutherson on the wing as good under high ball and a great finisher in open space.

Id play Lyon at 6 next year as a stop gap measure, and go hard for a centre and prop and young 5/8 signing next year, as there are a ton of quality players.

Would like to see Manly spend Foran's money they are looking to outlay (plus let go 3-4 donkey forwards from this years roster,and the money normally outlaid on lyon, and in 2016 sign for 2017

Koroisau (Hooker/5/8) Hopefully pick him up for 2016 with a release.
Tamou (Prop)
Ashley Taylor (5/8)
George Jennings (centre)

 

[qldeagle]

He is almost 25 and hasn't cracked first grade so makes the rest of your post look rather dumb

Yeah but in the lower grade still makes our forwards look pedestrian at best.

 

[Rynostradamus]

Slater is by far the best No1 in terms of communication at the back. As much as I've loved Brett and he's been a freak, Billy has been that one step ahead all his career.

Billy was custodian of the year in 2008. Snake nil Slater 40.

 

[the mauler]

Set 3 tries up and saved 3 today. Legend.

 

[HoldenV8]

The main reasons that Billy Slater went on to a long international career while Snake only ever played the one test were, other than Snake's numerous leg injuries, Qld's Origin domination and Slater's combinations with Smith, Cronk and other Qld test players like Inglis, Thurston and Lockyer.

Remember that when the Kangaroos 2008 RLWC squad was announced, Brett Stewart was actually selected as the #1 fullback after his form in the late season and finals (and being the season's leading try scorer) with Slater selected as the back up. Snake was then ruled out with a shoulder injury and other than his brain snap in the final, Slater went on to have a pretty damn good tournament.

After that we lost Snake for most of 2009 and pretty much all of 2010 and by the time he came back Slater had 2 years as the established test fullback. Snake got his NSW jumper back, but with Jarryd Hayne and Darius Boyd playing wing in the test team they were in front of him when Slater got injured.

As a fullback I would say Snake is marginally better than Slater is. But its all a matter of opinion really.

 

[EagleFromMay1967]

. . . . Snake got his NSW jumper back, but with Jarryd Hayne and Darius Boyd playing wing in the test team they were in front of him when Slater got injured.
As a fullback I would say Snake is marginally better than Slater is. But its all a matter of opinion really.

Our opinions coincide Holden. But one area where it isnt opinion and its based on statistics is try scoring strike rate (Brett is way out in front of Grub Slater). Also count of try assists both overall and avg per game. Brett would be leading here as well.

But there is an obvious third area in which Brett is the better fullback, the better example for the fans of the game; particularly young people: And that is The spirit in which he plays the game. No cheap shots, no grubby tactics, dirty play.
I do not take from Brett's comments that he's gonna hold the club to ransom ~ how can he?. He was just saying that he feels good about his body at the moment and feels he can do another 3-4 years. If his form holds up if his body holds up why not? He is not holding anyone back from a career. At the moment and for the foreseeable future he is MWSE's best fullback option.
Actually for the foreseeable future he IS MANLY'S BEST PLAYER.
That last one IS an opinion. Another opinion i have after 48 Years as a Manly supporter is that Snake is easily Manly's most valuable player since Bob Fulton and deserves every opportunity to finish a 1 Club career.

 

[Snake]

I was at the game today sitting in Western grandstand and I could hear Snake screaming at our players from the back as he set our defence. He was very loud and enthusiastic and obviously fired up for a win; outstanding competitor.

 

[Merdy33]

This post, and V8's before it sum up the Stewart v Slater issue nicely. Had Snake not been injured after 2008, their situations would have been reversed. I've argued for years that Snake is a more complete footballer than Slater. In kicking, passing and defence, he's clearly better, and at least Slater's equal in everything else.

 

[sheridanstand78]

I like the option of a 1 year deal for 2017 plus an option for an extra if he is still fit and happy.

 

[Paw93]

The main reasons that Billy Slater went on to a long international career while Snake only ever played the one test were, other than Snake's numerous leg injuries, Qld's Origin domination and Slater's combinations with Smith, Cronk and other Qld test players like Inglis, Thurston and Lockyer.

Remember that when the Kangaroos 2008 RLWC squad was announced, Brett Stewart was actually selected as the #1 fullback after his form in the late season and finals (and being the season's leading try scorer) with Slater selected as the back up. Snake was then ruled out with a shoulder injury and other than his brain snap in the final, Slater went on to have a pretty damn good tournament.

After that we lost Snake for most of 2009 and pretty much all of 2010 and by the time he came back Slater had 2 years as the established test fullback. Snake got his NSW jumper back, but with Jarryd Hayne and Darius Boyd playing wing in the test team they were in front of him when Slater got injured.

As a fullback I would say Snake is marginally better than Slater is. But its all a matter of opinion really.

Agreed. Fullbacks generally do better when the spine of the team is doing well and whereas Slater has had the same spine to work with in the Kangaroos, QLD team and at the Storm, Snake has had to work with a changing spine at Manly and with few opportunities at the rep level.

His ability to quickly gel with a team is amazing though. I still remember his foresight when Farah kicked the ball from dummy half and Snake came screaming through for a great try in SOO. His organisational skills are second to none in the NRL too and in attack his support play plus his passing ability are awesome to watch. Sad that his injuries cut his pace down but he's improved every other part of his game regardless.

 

[Rynostradamus]

Snake today: 2 deadly passes and one deft kick for 3 try assists from effectively the 5/8 position. This is the thing he doesnt need to adapt he has the best pass in the comp would be near the fastest 5/8 and can kick long and short. All 3 a cut and class above what any other 5/8 in the NRL is capable of producing. He also cut feki in half pulled down tagatese to save two certain tries and almost pulled off a 3rd in cover.
He will be fine in the front line of defence compared to no shoulders arm tackler forlorn. I still think he can play 5/8 and prolong his career and kick returns are not his strong point.

 

[Mals]

Let's talk a contract extension for Snake early next season. He still has 2016 to run on his existing deal. Right now our retention committee need to focus on forwards/halves options for next season.

 

[Go manly]

Well...I may not be some big city lawyer.....

But he's just challenging the club to say "You're worth more than Foz." *











*I made that up, sorry. 🙂

So you really are a big city lawyer

 

[Alby]

There's a lot of excitement about our new signings and young guns, but I can't get past Snake, who I still feel is the most important player in the team.

It's interesting how people talk about Brett's longevity in the game, but out of the remaining seniors, he seems to be the least injury prone atm (judging by the last 2 seasons). He's obviously changed something up in his training/diet (bit like what Minichello did).

Being older, wiser, healthy and still relatively fast, I reckon he'll be exploiting opposition weaknesses more than ever now - in a way 38yo Floyd Mayweather does with his opponents (and I don't even like Floyd!)

 

[robbiea]

This is not knocking him whatsoever ,But he doesn't put his body into the punishing areas as he used too.He will still make that one on one massive tackle to save a try ,but he now tackles less & offloads more .He is playing the smart mans game ,which is the reason he is lasting ..

 

[HoldenV8]

Kick returns in the past few seasons haven't been the strongest part of Snake's game. We all know that he makes among the least metres for an NRL fullback from kick returns. So don't be too surprised to see Jorge and Tommy taking a lot of the kick returns in 2016 and it wouldn't surprise me to see Tommy actually playing at fullback for a lot of the kick returns.

Personally I think that Tom Trbojevic can't get a better fullback mentor heading into 2016 and beyond than Snake.

 

[swoop]

Wouldn't hurt to see him at 5/8th when we're in attack, occasionally swap with Walker at the back on kick returns as well.

 

[manlyfan76]

There's a lot of excitement about our new signings and young guns, but I can't get past Snake, who I still feel is the most important player in the team.

It's interesting how people talk about Brett's longevity in the game, but out of the remaining seniors, he seems to be the least injury prone atm (judging by the last 2 seasons). He's obviously changed something up in his training/diet (bit like what Minichello did).

Being older, wiser, healthy and still relatively fast, I reckon he'll be exploiting opposition weaknesses more than ever now - in a way 38yo Floyd Mayweather does with his opponents (and I don't even like Floyd!)

View attachment 2840

Mayweather opponents being women.