From the SMH:
‘He’s a big part of our future’: Manly want Humphreys’ son as rivals circle
April 3, 2022 — 5.40pm
Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn wants Stephen Humphreys’ son Jamie to stay at Manly despite the club’s chief executive quitting his role as a host of rival clubs circle the future NRL prospect.
Jamie Humphreys, who was named in an extended Sea Eagles squad for an NRL trial earlier this year, is considered one of the most promising players in Manly’s system, and had been progressing through the grades while his father was chief As many as half a dozen clubs have registered interest in Jamie, who has shown enough promise to suggest an NRL debut could in the offing within a couple of years.
But Stephen’s sudden exit after club sponsors raised concerns with the Sea Eagles board over his personal financial situation has left Penn on the front foot over Jamie’s future on the northern beaches.
Jamie played in the halves during the Sea Eagles’ 28-24 loss to the Raiders in Jersey Flegg at 4 Pines Park on Saturday. He’s listed as a development player with the Sea Eagles through until the end of 2023, but can field offers from elsewhere on November 1.
“He’s contracted to the club and we really want him to stay,” Penn said. “He’s definitely part of our future and he’s in our emerging squad. He’s very talented. It’s been a difficult 48 hours or so, but we’ll work through that.”
Talent: Jamie Humphreys is highly rated by officials at Manly and beyond.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
Humphreys was due to front the Sea Eagles board over a corporate governance issue, but tendered his resignation on Friday - less than 24 hours before Manly’s trek to Mudgee for their round-four match against the Raiders. The Sea Eagles accepted his resignation.
The Sun-Herald revealed Humphreys had approached several Sea Eagles sponsors about his own financial situation.
Those approaches were then relayed to the Manly board, who launched an immediate investigation into the matter. Humphreys’ position was then deemed untenable.
Penn said the matter was a “personal one rather than a club matter”.
It will force the Sea Eagles to search for yet another chief executive, with the role churning through more than a dozen position holders since the Northern Eagles era ended nearly two decades ago. “We’ve already started the process and hopefully, we’ll find someone in the coming weeks,” Penn said.
Stephen Humphreys could not be reached for comment.
