WHILE Penrith were in Bathurst to prepare for Friday night’s game against the Cowboys, Manly Sea Eagles winger Akuila Uate was secretly getting a guided tour of the Panthers’ $25 million rugby league academy.
General manager Phil Gould was spotted showing off the facilities to Uate and his manager, Darryl Mather, hoping he can entice the powerful winger to the foot of the mountains next season.
Manly have told Uate, who is off contract at the end of the season, to explore other opportunities.
It is the first sign of coach Trent Barrett having to release players to repair his salary cap.
Barrett had told Uate he was part of Manly’s long-term plans before the NRL caught the Sea Eagles cheating and ruled they would have to play $350,000 under the cap for the next two years.
The Panthers’ decision to chase the Fijian winger is an indication they have concerns about matching offers from rival clubs for Josh Mansour (pictured below), who is also off contract this year.
A number of rival clubs are chasing the injured winger.
Gould would prefer to keep him but can’t match the other offers.
Manly will also release off-contract players Matt Wright, Jono Wright and Jackson Hastings at the end of the season.
Of all their off-contract players, only former Bulldogs backrower Shaun Lane has been offered a new deal.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...e/news-story/41e4a1c08bc7d5f7c34df76e38067f4e
General manager Phil Gould was spotted showing off the facilities to Uate and his manager, Darryl Mather, hoping he can entice the powerful winger to the foot of the mountains next season.
Manly have told Uate, who is off contract at the end of the season, to explore other opportunities.
It is the first sign of coach Trent Barrett having to release players to repair his salary cap.
Barrett had told Uate he was part of Manly’s long-term plans before the NRL caught the Sea Eagles cheating and ruled they would have to play $350,000 under the cap for the next two years.
The Panthers’ decision to chase the Fijian winger is an indication they have concerns about matching offers from rival clubs for Josh Mansour (pictured below), who is also off contract this year.
A number of rival clubs are chasing the injured winger.
Gould would prefer to keep him but can’t match the other offers.
Manly will also release off-contract players Matt Wright, Jono Wright and Jackson Hastings at the end of the season.
Of all their off-contract players, only former Bulldogs backrower Shaun Lane has been offered a new deal.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...e/news-story/41e4a1c08bc7d5f7c34df76e38067f4e
