The key is Brett Stewart

[Mark from Brisbane]

Personally I would rather see Snake retire than play for another NRL club.

I know we said the same about Gift, Choc and Foz.....but somehow with what Snake achieved here with his record try scoring....seeing him in another NRL clubs jumper just wouldn't be right.

I still don't think he will play next season and I think its part of the reason why we have Kevin Locke training for a contract.

With you 150%, would be a tragedy to see him in different NRL colours, but also a tragedy if he's still not 100% trying to run around!!

Personally I can't see him playing but I think we will be paying for him regardless

 

[HoldenV8]

I'd suggest that if Snake actually does have to retire or is forced out of the club (e.g. before Christmas), you'll see Locke go from trailing for one to actually signing a contract.

Turbo in the centres I'm not really sold on TBH. Other than that one good read in his first game there he was usually all at sea with his defensive positioning. Don't get me wrong, he did ok in a position he'd never played before and his running game wasn't really affected, but I think we get much better value from him as a fullback.

 

[Rosko]

Until this situation is resolved in financial and football terms, hard to see we can be top 8 contenders.
No other club has a handicap like the Snake and Skivvy situation on their roster.

 

[Shoe1]

Until this situation is resolved in financial and football terms, hard to see we can be top 8 contenders.
No other club has a handicap like the Snake and Skivvy situation on their roster.

Surely this will be resolved, but while it drags on we are 1 million dollars behind all the other teams. Can't play / won't retire is an impasse.

 

[Fluffy]

Until this situation is resolved in financial and football terms, hard to see we can be top 8 contenders.
No other club has a handicap like the Snake and Skivvy situation on their roster.

we can always do that Parramatta approach and buy the players anyway and just get rid of the ones who are injured if we get caught

 

[Brooke]

Until this situation is resolved in financial and football terms, hard to see we can be top 8 contenders.
No other club has a handicap like the Snake and Skivvy situation on their roster.

It has already been reported that Mattai is retiring and seems a foregone conclusion. His salary should not be counted.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

It has already been reported that Mattai is retiring and seems a foregone conclusion. His salary should not be counted.

If true you'd think the club would announce that , oh wait we are still waiting for the announcement of the signing of Matt Orford!!

0/10 for fan engagement to date!

 

[Brooke]

If true you'd think the club would announce that , oh wait we are still waiting for the announcement of the signing of Matt Orford!!

0/10 for fan engagement to date!

Perhaps they are still working on a settlement figure? I don't know just speculating.

 

[fLIP]

It's a shame the way Brett is finishing his own career. We cant blame the club. The blokes attitude towards his brother's departure basically tore the club apart and ended an era.

I'd have no problem with him playing on through injury, an injured B Stewart is still one of the best fullbacks in the game. The problem is, his effort this season gone in my opinion was not one of an injured player, but one who had no desire to play anymore and is there to top up the bank.

The effort just was not there. He didn't look remotely interested at any stage. I've seen many a lesser player push through injury a lot better than someone like Stewart who's shown mounds of resilience over the years.

 

[Bearfax]

Little doubt Brett needs the money. He's not going to retire unless he is assured of a payout matchable to his contract figure. I would suggest Matai would be trying the same thing

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

It's correct however that not one other club has their two most senior players in this position, and due to this the rebuild will probably have to wait another year.

Looks like my 5 year plan will have to become 6!!!

 

[Andrew..]

There can't have been much truth to the Gillett and Bird rumours if this is our financial reality for next year.

A good lesson in don't believe it till it happens !

 

[Bearfax]

There can't have been much truth to the Gillett and Bird rumours if this is our financial reality for next year.

A good lesson in don't believe it till it happens !

Not 2017 Andrew. 2018. Oh and Woods and Cleary as well, just to get the rumours running

 

[Mitch]

I would of thought given Snake has been out of action for 4 or so months that if he was to be coming back he would be well in to rehab with the club, the only reason he wouldn't is due to having another set back or a decision being made not to come back.

But no one knows because nothing has been touched on by the club about Brett or Matai.

 

[BoomStickBarbie]

SEA Eagles fullback Brett Stewart has been granted additional time away from training to focus on his injury rehabilitation.

The Daily Telegraph understands Stewart won’t be required back to Manly’s pre-season training until January 3.

The fullback continues to battle a knee injury and it remains unclear whether he will ever play again.

Stewart is on what has been described as an “extended hiatus”.

There have been suggestions he may announce his retirement but close friends say Stewart wants to play again.


It appears no decision will be made until the new year when the club can determine whether he is physically ready for another gruelling NRL season.

Stewart has a year to run on his contract. Should Stewart return in January fit, he would look to fulfil his contractual obligations and play on.

If he cannot overcome the injury, Manly and Stewart’s management would look at some sort of financial settlement.

 

[JenEagle]

Good luck snake. We'd love to see you play one last season. We're thinking of you brother.

 

[Mitch]

Best wishes to Snake on his recovery, and certainly hope he bounces back. But January is leaving it very late to determine if he is going to be playing in 2017 or not. You're basically writing off any replacement of any note being found, prior to the season.

 

[Snake]

There are pros and cons to Snake playing on...

On one hand he is an old head in the backs that we particularly need given Killer and Skivvi's respective retirements. I also think that as good as Tom T is, he still has a lot to learn and who better to teach him than Snake.

I also think that it's pretty clear 2017 is part of the re-build and the chances of us winning the comp are pretty damn near impossible so why not let Snake hang around another year after all he has given; it's not like it's gonna cost us a premiership?!

On the other hand, how long do hold Tom T back? How much of an impact does having a fullback that runs for 50m a game have on the rest of the team? The kick returns in the modern game are so important and Tom T runs for a good 100m extra than Snake each match.

It's tough but I tend to think that if he is fit he should play on for one more year.

 

[BOZO]

Snake will always be remembered as one of my favorite Manly players . His 2016 effort will also be remembered as one of the worst in our number 1 jumper . Personally I think the Snake over the years has given it all for the mighty Sea eagles and he has no venom left to be nothing more than just a passenger in our 2017 team

 

[Mitch]

I just find it baffling that the club would wait until January, for a decision to be made. It will make managing the roster an impossible task.