Shaka1eye
Reserve Grader
Manly muddle
If Manly want to keep Daly-Cherry Evans at the club, a simple first step is necessary – they need to sit him and Brett Stewart down and let them work through their differences. Depending on who you talk to, the pair either don't communicate or do so grudgingly for only team reasons. It's no secret Manly were a divided team last year – and the treatment of Glenn Stewart was the heart of the problem.
The non-offer to Glenn Stewart followed by the voluntary departure of Sea Eagles great Anthony Watmough was the direct result. How Geoff Toovey held the team together was one of the great achievements of last season. The problem is still lingering – because Brett Stewart wasn't allowed to leave and because Cherry-Evans is still at the club.
The issue stems back to a threat from Cherry-Evans at his last contract upgrade that he wouldn't train with the side unless he got the money. Whether he said it – or it was a thought planted by his management – it was a taken as gospel by the senior playing group and the split began.
Without saying who is to blame, it's fair to say something must be done to smooth the path. The problem is Cherry-Evans isn't winning any friends at the club by courting other teams, but he has to look after himself – or more importantly his young family.
Brett Stewart is a club legend and he has had his best pre-season in years. It followed a spectacular finish to the season where he was close to untouchable. Clearly Stewart is a professional and Cherry-Evans was good enough to handle the internal heat and still be selected for Australia and Queensland. Whether he feels the situation between the two can be resolved or he is happy to ride through the drama and co-exist with Stewart is up to him.
The situation with Kieran Foran is less complicated. Foran has nothing but friends at Manly, and is one of the most respected players in the NRL. His issue is not money – it's long-term success.
He wants to play in a side that can win competitions; the money can look after itself. Foran will compare what Manly have to offer only with successful clubs – such as the Roosters and the Bulldogs – or a team with potential to be something, like the Eels. What he has to comprehend and is too modest to ever admit is that wherever he goes that club will be successful.
Manly's challenge will be to show Foran what he is going to be surrounded by and who is staying and why they will be strong. They've lost key players – not just Glenn Stewart and Watmough. The likes of Jason King and Brent Kite have left as well. Ironically it may be an easier decision for Foran to stay if Cherry-Evans does. But from what this column gets told, the two are making decisions without knowing what the other is doing.
If Manly want to keep Daly-Cherry Evans at the club, a simple first step is necessary – they need to sit him and Brett Stewart down and let them work through their differences. Depending on who you talk to, the pair either don't communicate or do so grudgingly for only team reasons. It's no secret Manly were a divided team last year – and the treatment of Glenn Stewart was the heart of the problem.
The non-offer to Glenn Stewart followed by the voluntary departure of Sea Eagles great Anthony Watmough was the direct result. How Geoff Toovey held the team together was one of the great achievements of last season. The problem is still lingering – because Brett Stewart wasn't allowed to leave and because Cherry-Evans is still at the club.
The issue stems back to a threat from Cherry-Evans at his last contract upgrade that he wouldn't train with the side unless he got the money. Whether he said it – or it was a thought planted by his management – it was a taken as gospel by the senior playing group and the split began.
Without saying who is to blame, it's fair to say something must be done to smooth the path. The problem is Cherry-Evans isn't winning any friends at the club by courting other teams, but he has to look after himself – or more importantly his young family.
Brett Stewart is a club legend and he has had his best pre-season in years. It followed a spectacular finish to the season where he was close to untouchable. Clearly Stewart is a professional and Cherry-Evans was good enough to handle the internal heat and still be selected for Australia and Queensland. Whether he feels the situation between the two can be resolved or he is happy to ride through the drama and co-exist with Stewart is up to him.
The situation with Kieran Foran is less complicated. Foran has nothing but friends at Manly, and is one of the most respected players in the NRL. His issue is not money – it's long-term success.
He wants to play in a side that can win competitions; the money can look after itself. Foran will compare what Manly have to offer only with successful clubs – such as the Roosters and the Bulldogs – or a team with potential to be something, like the Eels. What he has to comprehend and is too modest to ever admit is that wherever he goes that club will be successful.
Manly's challenge will be to show Foran what he is going to be surrounded by and who is staying and why they will be strong. They've lost key players – not just Glenn Stewart and Watmough. The likes of Jason King and Brent Kite have left as well. Ironically it may be an easier decision for Foran to stay if Cherry-Evans does. But from what this column gets told, the two are making decisions without knowing what the other is doing.