Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
St George Illawarra Dragons in $1m bid for Brett and Glenn Stewart
EXCLUSIVE by Dean Ritchie The Daily Telegraph November 14, 2011 12:00AM
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-in-1m-bid-for-brett-and-glenn-stewart/story-e6frexnr-1226193985720
THE Des Hasler fallout at Manly continues, with Brett and Glenn Stewart linked to St George Illawarra in a $1 million-a-year package deal.
The Daily Telegraph has been told the Stewart brothers are privately considering whether to remain at Brookvale after Hasler, their close mate and coach, was sacked.
While Hasler starts life as Canterbury Bulldogs coach this morning, the aftershocks at his old club are expected to continue for some time to come.
Glenn is off contract after next year and Brett is now a free agent due to a clause in his contract. It seems the pair - whose parents still live in the Illawarra - could leave Manly Sea Eagles as a stunning package deal. The Daily Telegraph has been told Brett, in particular, is hurt and angry at Hasler's treatment given his former coach's fierce support during the fullback's sexual assault case.
The brothers were also upset at the sacking of Manly official Peter Peters, who is a great friend of the Stewart family. Peters and Brett and Glenn's father, Barry, are in business together.
Although any deal would be at least six months away, the Dragons want the brothers and would need to reshuffle their salary cap. However, the club has some room to move in its salary cap after Darius Boyd's departure to Newcastle, Tim Moltzen's backflip and Mark Gasnier retiring.
Reluctant to discuss the Bulldogs until now, Hasler told The Daily Telegraph last night he was ready to rip into pre-season training.
He will walk through the gates of Belmore Sports Ground for the first time this morning and meet with assistant coach Jim Dymock and the club's football staff.
"I will then join their pre-season campaign," Hasler said. "There will no doubt be a period of getting to know each other. It's uncharted territory for me and I'll be relying on Jim and the coaching staff.
"Canterbury has a great tradition mixed with a young and adventurous management team. My main focus now is to get the best results we possibly can from this playing group and I know there'll be exciting and tough periods ahead."
The two-time premiership-winning coach was caught in another drama yesterday when confidential emails leaked out about his contract negotiations at Manly and alleged comments he made about former Sea Eagles media manager Peters. Manly players were filthy such documents were given to the media and are more than aware who leaked the sensitive details.
One first-grade player said: "We know who did it. Maybe the person in question would like some stuff leaked about him. That could be some very interesting reading."
Peters said he remains strong friends with Hasler.
"Nothing will come between Des and I. We have been mates through good times and bad times and nothing will stop that," Peter said.
Hasler added: "Zorba and I have had a long and positive friendship. Quite often things are said that are tongue-in-cheek. We enjoy each others personalities and often take the mickey out of one another. But we are great mates and that will never change."
EXCLUSIVE by Dean Ritchie The Daily Telegraph November 14, 2011 12:00AM
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-in-1m-bid-for-brett-and-glenn-stewart/story-e6frexnr-1226193985720
THE Des Hasler fallout at Manly continues, with Brett and Glenn Stewart linked to St George Illawarra in a $1 million-a-year package deal.
The Daily Telegraph has been told the Stewart brothers are privately considering whether to remain at Brookvale after Hasler, their close mate and coach, was sacked.
While Hasler starts life as Canterbury Bulldogs coach this morning, the aftershocks at his old club are expected to continue for some time to come.
Glenn is off contract after next year and Brett is now a free agent due to a clause in his contract. It seems the pair - whose parents still live in the Illawarra - could leave Manly Sea Eagles as a stunning package deal. The Daily Telegraph has been told Brett, in particular, is hurt and angry at Hasler's treatment given his former coach's fierce support during the fullback's sexual assault case.
The brothers were also upset at the sacking of Manly official Peter Peters, who is a great friend of the Stewart family. Peters and Brett and Glenn's father, Barry, are in business together.
Although any deal would be at least six months away, the Dragons want the brothers and would need to reshuffle their salary cap. However, the club has some room to move in its salary cap after Darius Boyd's departure to Newcastle, Tim Moltzen's backflip and Mark Gasnier retiring.
Reluctant to discuss the Bulldogs until now, Hasler told The Daily Telegraph last night he was ready to rip into pre-season training.
He will walk through the gates of Belmore Sports Ground for the first time this morning and meet with assistant coach Jim Dymock and the club's football staff.
"I will then join their pre-season campaign," Hasler said. "There will no doubt be a period of getting to know each other. It's uncharted territory for me and I'll be relying on Jim and the coaching staff.
"Canterbury has a great tradition mixed with a young and adventurous management team. My main focus now is to get the best results we possibly can from this playing group and I know there'll be exciting and tough periods ahead."
The two-time premiership-winning coach was caught in another drama yesterday when confidential emails leaked out about his contract negotiations at Manly and alleged comments he made about former Sea Eagles media manager Peters. Manly players were filthy such documents were given to the media and are more than aware who leaked the sensitive details.
One first-grade player said: "We know who did it. Maybe the person in question would like some stuff leaked about him. That could be some very interesting reading."
Peters said he remains strong friends with Hasler.
"Nothing will come between Des and I. We have been mates through good times and bad times and nothing will stop that," Peter said.
Hasler added: "Zorba and I have had a long and positive friendship. Quite often things are said that are tongue-in-cheek. We enjoy each others personalities and often take the mickey out of one another. But we are great mates and that will never change."
