Club announcement - Matai & Stewart to Retire

[Ralphie]

What clubs were in the market for two rapidly aging players, at the time of the re-signings?
Maybe a bit of noise initially but the writing was on the wall. The club could have managed this one better, but they panicked.

You mean they could have handled it the way they did with Glenn Stewart and not offer a contract. That worked well for the club didn't it. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

 

[Hamster Huey]

There's not an instrument invented that could measure the amount of my lack of surprise the nrl did this regarding Stewart.

We needed to do what parra did. Have one player 'accidentally' give stewart a career ending injury.

If only Stewart and Matai had a collision on the training field...

 

[Hamster Huey]

You mean they could have handled it the way they did with Glenn Stewart and not offer a contract. That worked well for the club didn't it. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

And in hindsight, the right decision to let Glenn go. What did he do at Souths and how quickly did the Manly fans breath a sigh of relief we dodged that bullet?
The club had that recent example to use but instead couldn't face it. Paying for it now.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

My gut feeling is the NRL will say yes to Matai and no Snake and think they're being fair-minded about it. And the club will have no choice but to wear it.

 

[Ned]

A couple than come to mind Joe Tapine and Pauli to Canberra. A contract means nothing. You could go after any player with a year left on their contract and most times they get an early release.

I see your point but it's not that simple, there were mitigating factors in both of those cases. So maybe another team will be rorting the cap and we will benefit and get the players they discard.

just look at Titans last year. Got a few handy pick ups mid season. Hayne, Hurrell, Peats

True but what I said above applies to the Tits, plus being owned by the NRL who want to pretty up the place and sell it ASAP could be a factor in those deals too.

Something like that happening bit I'm just working with what we know now, and our top 25 is effectively 23 as it stands.

 

[CBreeagles]

And in hindsight, the right decision to let Glenn go. What did he do at Souths and how quickly did the Manly fans breath a sigh of relief we dodged that bullet?
The club had that recent example to use but instead couldn't face it. Paying for it now.

Imagine if less than a year after we didn't offer Gift a contract we also let go of Snake and Matai both who were still playing well, just pissed off that Glen wasn't gonna be around anymore. The uproar from us would've been deafening, I wouldn't be surprised if some fans quit the club altogether. In hindsight it would've been a good idea but that's the gamble the club decided to take and it backfired.

 

[Fluffy]

Surely the number of games played in 2015 for Stewart is evidence to prove this is a new injury

 

[Hamster Huey]

Imagine if less than a year after we didn't offer Gift a contract we also let go of Snake and Matai both who were still playing well, just pissed off that Glen wasn't gonna be around anymore. The uproar from us would've been deafening, I wouldn't be surprised if some fans quit the club altogether. In hindsight it would've been a good idea but that's the gamble the club decided to take and it backfired.

I don't begrudge the offering of a one or two year contract at that time.

But anything opening up the club to a three year deal, for two aging warriors with busted bodies, was akin to Russian Roulette. And we've just found out the chamber wasn't empty.

 

[Supreme Leader]

If only Stewart and Matai had a collision on the training field...

I'm sure I saw them trip over each other at the awards night. Snake clutched his knee after Matai fell and hurt his neck. Hope they were Ok?

 

[swoop]

Independent mediator may be called in to decide on Brett Stewart's retirement appeal


An independent mediator will be called in to resolve the disagreement between the NRL and Manly over Brett Stewart's medical retirement clearance if the Sea Eagles' appeal is rejected.

Fairfax Media understands the Sea Eagles will clear almost a million dollars from this year's salary cap if they are granted the dispensation for the now retired Stewart and his former teammate, Steve Matai.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ewarts-retirement-appeal-20170213-gubxyn.html

 

[Sheikheagle]

I just don't see what good it'll do us at this point in the season, there's no real replacements for these guys on the market until next season. We're just going to get some fill in guys that other teams are looking to offload anyway.

We've got what we've got for this season, so basically a 23 man squad with these guys sitting out the season. Scary thought!!

I have heard Whare will be here before the start of the year if medical clearances are approved

 

[Dan]

And in hindsight, the right decision to let Glenn go. What did he do at Souths and how quickly did the Manly fans breath a sigh of relief we dodged that bullet?
The club had that recent example to use but instead couldn't face it. Paying for it now.

Not at all, it is brought up on here weekly as being disrespectful and wrong, and that it tore the team apart. If we didnt offer them contracts people would be going on about how we treat legends. Damned if you do damned if you dont

 

[Lord Eagleton]

Response from the NRL "Each case is judged on its individual merits."

Basically, what the NRL means is = we decide if we want to green light it or not. Whats in it for us? etc

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I have heard Whare will be here before the start of the year if medical clearances are approved

Excellent player but I thought he prefers right centre, as does Walker?

 

[conanu]

To be fair to the club they really had no choice but to sign these two, and also the boys deserved and earned the respect to be offered those contracts. Unfortunately it didn't work out in our favour, much like the last couple of seasons. The NRL are the villains here, useless bastards that have no interest in the players or clubs getting a fair deal when it comes to these players final contracts after they have given everything physically to their clubs and the NRL. No wonder they are jaded and all talk about leaving to other codes. It is disgraceful.

 

[Nice Beaver]

I don't begrudge the offering of a one or two year contract at that time.

But anything opening up the club to a three year deal, for two aging warriors with busted bodies, was akin to Russian Roulette. And we've just found out the chamber wasn't empty.

Stewart was given a 1 year extension in 2015, not a 3 year deal.

And Matai was offered a 3 year deal at age 29 in 2014 for seasons 2015 to 2017.

Gold Coast and Warriors were after Matai. In light of the other players jumping ship, there was little choice than for Manly to offer him a 3 year deal. Had they not fans would have erupted and I for one don't think they made a mistake at all.

 

[robbiea]

Insurance companies = scum of the earth...

 

[Wombat64]

Insurance companies = scum of the earth...

0

Insurance companies = scum of the earth...

That's really unfair to scum ........

 

[MadMarcus]

Insurance companies = scum of the earth...

Todd Greenberg < insurance companies < scum of the earth

 

[Eagles2nv]

I think the other issue here is that one club players who have served for many years should be given a heavy salary cap discount anyway.

For example if you play for a club for 10 years you get 30% discount or something to that effect. The salary cap punishes teams who have built loyal players.

So at the very least snake and skivvy's contracts should have a discount, if not the medical retirement. Essentially the NRL is punishing us because we looked after 2 loyal players at the club who can no longer play.

Likewise it also punishes clubs who invest in juniors as your juniors should also get a discount, but that is another story.