Is Mestrov really our Messiah?

[conanu]

I am just playing devils advocate here as many on this forum now seem to be siding with the club and the narrative of DCE being a money grabbing mercenary.

It seems to be working as blaming the club for screwing up the resigning a club legend is what we all should be concerned about.

None of us know the truth.

I think everyone would have been happy to see DCE finish his career at Manly, but only on a reasonable contract. Its clear to anyone that DCE is not the guy that takes unders for the team, he never has and never will. He believes he is worth more and that is his right. Nobody has an issue with him leaving, its the burn the clubs reputation to the ground on the way out to save his own reputation that everyone has a problem with. He is pig headed and bullish when it comes to negotiations, that is a proven fact through his connection to RLPA negotiations and his own 2015 contract. This is nothing new.

He just needs to shut up now and play footy. But that is hard when you are trying to agitate the club for an early release. Thats why he keeps attacking the club hierarchy even after they try to say all is good because he is goading them into moving him on to stop the disruption.But hopefully they won't, although he will get dirty if he needs to.

 

[Budgie]

It will not all be protected… contract terms are… release requests, emails offering a contract (terms can be redacted - eg. an email stating “please find attached a contract offer for the consideration of your client”) and things of that nature (backing up some of the contested claims coming from the club) most certainly are not protected by “commercial in confidence”…

You're missing the point. Why would any club give its internal machinations to a muck raking journalist, especially one who is in the pocket of the antagonist of the whole situation.

Frankly Frank, you need to come to terms with the fact that DCE is not the shining light he convinced you he was.

In fact, here's a tip, look up The Dark Triad and tell me which box he doesn't tick

 

[conanu]

Interesting that you mention Weidler and a $450K offer.I wonder if that’s a tactic by the DCE camp to make it look like they low balled him,when in fact the $450K was just what goes onto the cap after the veteran/long service discount?

450k was only a minimum figure, if the player doesn't accept that amount then it is irrelevant, whatever they are paid goes on the cap. Glen Stewart would have took Manly's hand off for that amount in his final years, but DCE's big contract forced him to Souths.

 

[frank stokes]

You're missing the point. Why would any club give its internal machinations to a muck raking journalist, especially one who is in the pocket of the antagonist of the whole situation.

Frankly Frank, you need to come to terms with the fact that DCE is not the shining light he convinced you he was.

In fact, here's a tip, look up The Dark Triad and tell me which box he doesn't tick

I am not absolving Chez, I am simply unconvinced that the club (which has a history of poor management) has played this out the way that it would have us believe… no problem with them not prioritising his resigning but JUST SAY THAT and stop the bs…

you have obviously decided it is all on Chez who is a money-hungry grub (which coincidentally was a position put forward by “muck-raking journalists” in 2015 🤔)

Truth is that you have no better idea of what has really happened than I do @Budgie and I have no problem with you holding a different opinion… as my daughter would say “you do you boo”…

For me, the dots do not line up and the crap coming out about Chez is targeted towards undermining his reputation and giving the club a free pass… I need to see some evidence before I swallow that…

 

[IQofalimabean]

I thought 750 k was a fair offer for 2 years given dce will be 37 at the beginning of his next contract. I think its a good call by mestrov to balance the cap a bit. He might be our best player but hes too old and wants too much money.

 

[XV-1]

DCE is resigning.

Re-signing DCE?

Now that’s another matter.

Depends who in Manly one talks to 😊

 

[LeonardCohen]

Mestrov stated in an interview (I think with ABC Sport?) that he chairs the retention and recruitment committee of which Seibold is a member.

Of course he does because he has to know what the coach and recruitment team want and relay back to them where the numbers sit.

But do you really believe he makes tactical footballing decisions that dictate whether a player is wanted by the football staff? I.e. sorry Seibs, I don’t think Daly’s what the team needs, he’s too erratic. I think a stronger game manager is needed. I’ve made my decision.

My point was that Mestrov’s opinion about Daly’s football is not part of the equation. You see all sorts of business types step into clubs as CEOs with no rugby league background or experience all the time and it’s because they don’t make the footballing decisions. I’ve heard many coaches come out publicly and state that coaches get what they want when it comes to signing players….unless of course Gus is running the show 😂

 

[LeonardCohen]

A little clarification here @LeonardCohen; Tony Mestrov is on the record in saying that an offer was made, not a formal NRL sanctioned offer, to his agent and this has not been disputed by DCE at all.

Was a formal offer made during the negotiations, no, there was no formal offer but to say that "no offer was made" is incorrect.

Why do I, in particular harp on about such a to thing, for me, in my line of work, it goes towards the character of a person or party and the integrity of accepting responsibility, as a whole, to how you or your agents represent you.

Again, I'm not trying to defend one party or the other however, I'm a stickler for the finer details when it comes to a story.

That's an issue in my book and will always remain an issue.

Conduct and performance go a long way in any negotiation, as does a semblance of truth, by either party.

But what’s disputable about it? We weren’t going table a formal offer because he indicated he didn’t want one? That’s the part that’s not adding up for me.

There’s all this conjecture about did we or didn’t we offer him a deal but I don’t see how either answer changes anything because he didn’t want an offer in the first place.

 

[master blaster]

It was a very vague story on 360 tonight.Neither Buzz or Brent Read were 100% sure it was Mestrov and both were very keen to stick up for him.The whole thing is a shamozzle

Why would a CEO of a club start a smear campaign against a current player of the club regardless of whats happened when he has done a good job with the club so far, it would be childish if he did, dont believe he would, thats my opinion anyway

 

[47MVEagle]

I just find it really weird that it's come to this.

If you look at the salient points with emotion removed (listed below), I don't understand why either party would come out butthurt & be trying to discredit each other.

-DCE's contract expires on 30/11/2025
-He came on the open market as of 30/11/2024
-He told the club late last year (his words) that he would not be at the club post-2025.

That's it, all the rest of it is distraction & static that everyone should avoid getting caught up in.

Unfortunately, any benefit of the doubt I gave DCE after his interview last Monday night dissipated with his decision to add fuel to the fire with his post-match presser on Sunday about the "smear campaign" he reckons is going on. I thought that was a bit prima donna-ish after his warm reception at Brookie.

The bloke has got what he wants (according to what he himself has said), so why the sour grapes & trying to discredit the club now?

 

[Nordburg]

Why would a CEO of a club start a smear campaign against a current player of the club regardless of whats happened when he has done a good job with the club so far, it would be childish if he did, dont believe he would, thats my opinion anyway

The first story I read/heard that had a negative lean against DCE,was from Dean Ritchie,so it doesn’t take a genius to work out where he gets his rumours from

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

For me, the dots do not line up and the crap coming out about Chez is targeted towards undermining his reputation and giving the club a free pass… I need to see some evidence before I swallow that…

DCE undermined his own reputation - by going on TV in his civvies to tell the world he was finishing with Manly after this year - in fact, he'll play on (Oh yeah ... but definitely not with Manly). Obviously begging the question, 'Ooh, I wonder why?'

Does anyone seriously think this could fail to embarrass the club so much that they'd have no choice but to respond, in some way? No

Everyone has basically forgiven him... but yet he doubled down with his smear campaign presser. Again, does anyone (seriously) think he had no idea this would unleash a fresh media frenzy, producing a maelstrom of speculation allegations and innuendo guaranteed to rock the club and our season?

No? No. Of course not. DCE is clever, not stupid, and I can't believe he's naive and doesn't know what he's doing.

Old saying about airing dirty laundry in public. In rugby league club world it's a no-no.
I wish he'd stop and hope it isn't too late.

 

[master blaster]

Here,s food for thought or a conspiracy theory if you like. Who,s to say that he is not agitating for an early release, he wanted one last year so why not now, and the reason being he has an unworkable relationship with the clubs CEO, and who is desperately looking for a halfback, the Roosters, that would make it an easy passage way to uncle Nick and Co, feel free to have your say lol

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

9 days and you’re still all talking about it, and clicking on stories peddled by the various journos , and their clicks are going through the roof , and their advertisers want to make sure THEY are featured in the advertising space for every story as this is like the second coming.

And you all are madly clicking , reading and you’ve picked a side , and so the cycle continues.

Everything they can do to make it go longer & longer because boy oh boy the $$$ are flowing.

Oh yeah baby, you’re all being sucked right in !!

Read nothing , enjoy the year , he’s leaving ( had to happen sometime ).

Now back to the next game.

 

[jbb/james]

DCE undermined his own reputation - by going on TV in his civvies to tell the world he was finishing with Manly after this year - in fact, he'll play on (Oh yeah ... but definitely not with Manly). Obviously begging the question, 'Ooh, I wonder why?'

Does anyone seriously think this could fail to embarrass the club so much that they'd have no choice but to respond, in some way? No

Everyone has basically forgiven him... but yet he doubled down with his smear campaign presser. Again, does anyone (seriously) think he had no idea this would unleash a fresh media frenzy, producing a maelstrom of speculation allegations and innuendo guaranteed to rock the club and our season?

No? No. Of course not. DCE is clever, not stupid, and I can't believe he's naive and doesn't know what he's doing.

Old saying about airing dirty laundry in public. In rugby league club world it's a no-no.
I wish he'd stop and hope it isn't too late.

2 weeks in reggies tops, and i bet he finds clarity in his future decision

 

[frank stokes]

DCE undermined his own reputation - by going on TV in his civvies to tell the world he was finishing with Manly after this year - in fact, he'll play on (Oh yeah ... but definitely not with Manly). Obviously begging the question, 'Ooh, I wonder why?'

Does anyone seriously think this could fail to embarrass the club so much that they'd have no choice but to respond, in some way? No

Everyone has basically forgiven him... but yet he doubled down with his smear campaign presser. Again, does anyone (seriously) think he had no idea this would unleash a fresh media frenzy, producing a maelstrom of speculation allegations and innuendo guaranteed to rock the club and our season?

No? No. Of course not. DCE is clever, not stupid, and I can't believe he's naive and doesn't know what he's doing.

Old saying about airing dirty laundry in public. In rugby league club world it's a no-no.
I wish he'd stop and hope it isn't too late.

Personally I reckon the decision was made because the relationship broke down and Chez declared “not at Manly” to allow other clubs to plan for his inclusion and get their best offers together prior to November 1…

Did that benefit Manly? No. I suspect Chez does not give af because it has become clear to him that he is not a Manly priority and he wants to see what is actually out there for him in NRL land.

The resulting fallout could have been avoided if the club had just said “that sux, respect his decision and unfortunately we have to manage a salary cap and retain our future roster”…

Instead the club want to run a bs line that he is a priority still and it appears they have chosen to drip-feed slanderous bs to the media to make it look like it is all on Chez (eg. Demands for releases, a figure of $1.1M, min 2 years)?

Not f*cking cool if that is how they choose to treat the longest serving Manly player ever - and just because he did not tell them he is leaving…

If they are not doing that and there is evidence that it actually is all Chez - put up…

 

[frank stokes]

Here,s food for thought or a conspiracy theory if you like. Who,s to say that he is not agitating for an early release, he wanted one last year so why not now, and the reason being he has an unworkable relationship with the clubs CEO, and who is desperately looking for a halfback, the Roosters, that would make it an easy passage way to uncle Nick and Co, feel free to have your say lol

Possible…

 

[BOZO]

I am just listening to all of that interview ...... it's 20 minutes. How can you say Mestrov is a dud? He comes across as very reasonable and sensible.

Very Reasonable Sensible CEOs dont make last minute and desperate Knee jerk reaction Contract offers live on NRL Gossip TV to add fuel to the fiery circus
Those actions were unprofessional and unreasonable
Substandard Player
Substandard CEO

 

[Eagle 1]

I think everyone would have been happy to see DCE finish his career at Manly, but only on a reasonable contract. Its clear to anyone that DCE is not the guy that takes unders for the team, he never has and never will. He believes he is worth more and that is his right. Nobody has an issue with him leaving, its the burn the clubs reputation to the ground on the way out to save his own reputation that everyone has a problem with. He is pig headed and bullish when it comes to negotiations, that is a proven fact through his connection to RLPA negotiations and his own 2015 contract. This is nothing new.

He just needs to shut up now and play footy. But that is hard when you are trying to agitate the club for an early release. Thats why he keeps attacking the club hierarchy even after they try to say all is good because he is goading them into moving him on to stop the disruption.But hopefully they won't, although he will get dirty if he needs to.

Dylan Brown getting 1.3m a season from the Knights was probably the catylist for DCE to go for the money. Brown getting around double to the DCE offer from Manly, he's way better than Brown, and this would of had him seething red. But he's made 13m+ since he's been here, I guess it all comes down to, what your content with to what you can further get.

 

[Nordburg]

Dylan Brown getting 1.3m a season from the Knights was probably the catylist for DCE to go for the money. Brown getting around double to the DCE offer from Manly, he's way better than Brown, and this would have had him seething red. But he's made 13m+ since he's been here, I guess it all comes down to, what your content with to what you can further get.

DCE wanted out long before Brown signed his contract