MANLY will not pressure battered duo Anthony Watmough and Steve Matai into pressing charges against a group of men who bashed them and were still at large last night.
After it emerged that a stricken woman was thought to have sparked the vicious attack, Manly CEO Graham Lowe last night said the club considered the matter closed because the players were deemed innocent victims.
"But as far as pressing charges goes, that will be up to the two players as individuals," Lowe said.
"The club won't have any say in that - they'll be guided by their own feelings and legal advice."
Decision time will not arise until police can arrest any of the three men who are believed to have kicked and punched the two internationals into a bloodied mess.
Detectives are still hunting for leads into the attack, which occurred about 1.30am on Sunday on the side of Warringah Rd, Beacon Hill, as Watmough and Matai sought a taxi home.
Sources say the players noticed a young woman crying in the street and asked about her welfare.
Their inquiries provoked a group at a nearby house party, which contained several large men of Pacific Islander appearance.
Matai has said he remembered seeing a man approach, but not the punch that knocked him unconscious for several minutes.
Watmough was left alone to defend his teammate and suffered a badly bruised eye.
Both players were again excused from training yesterday, with Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler predicting a return either tomorrow or Friday. "They are fine physically but still a bit shaken, and that's why we thought it best to give them a few more days off," he said.
"They'll be back on the field at the end of this week."
The Sea Eagles have engaged a lawyer to guide both players through their dealings with police. They have already provided a written statement but are yet to be formally interviewed.
There was speculation yesterday that former Sea Eagle John Hopoate had been asked to assist police in finding the perpetrators, but Lowe said Hopoate was playing no role in the case.
Neither Matai nor Watmough could be contacted for comment yesterday.
Both are angry about the attack but would also be mindful of the strain involved in submitting themselves as prosecution witnesses before a court.
Lowe said he'd been in constant contact with NRL boss David Gallop but had received no request to provide an incident report to the league.
Daily Telegraph
Stalking Choc and Matai after hours and putting on a sad face and seeking some attention since snake has been in hiding. 
