Thanks for the photo Happily and the for the videos Kiwi. Some things are missed more than others when you live far away.
Clearly, thanking the fans meant enough that Stewart was able to overcome whatever the dramas are with some at the club in more recent times. Shoulders might not have been able to manage that (just speculating - his call anyway). Fitting to have Matty Ballin honoured at the same time. Like these 2 he punished his body so Manly could be a dominant force for a decade.
The thread has covered my feelings about Stewart as a player well enough; what he managed to achieve, what could have been, what an influence he was like all the great players. Let me just say this as to add to the tributes: that piece of play he produced in the game against the broncos that statistics will record as a try assist - the pick up and pass of a ridiculously bouncing ball at bootlace level, running at full speed with a defender sweating on him - is one I show people to demonstrate how brilliantly talented and quick thinking he was. Some of the freakish try scoring aerobatics of the wingers these days might trump it for athletic prowess, but I can't remember ever seeing a better piece of technical skill + footballing nous.
