Sea Eagles stars prove their loyalty By Todd Balym
June 19, 2007
THE loyalty of Steve Menzies is starting to rub off at Manly with Anthony Watmough and Brett Stewart both keen to remain one-club players.
Watmough is close to finalising a new three-year deal with the Sea Eagles, while NSW fullback Stewart has been offered a massive contract to keep him at the club until the end of 2012.
NSW prop Brent Kite is also expected to sign a new three-year offer later this week, while discussions are also underway to secure coach Des Hasler until the end of 2010.
Stewart, labelled a "long term marquee player" by club chief executive Grant Mayer, said the influence of Menzies on the current generation of players was inspiring them to show loyalty to the club.
Menzies turned down lucrative offers from Parramatta and had interest from other clubs during his 15-year career and last week set a club record with his 310th first-grade appearance.
"I would like to see myself here for the rest of my career," said Stewart. "The likes of Steve Menzies have done it and to follow in his footsteps would probably be a dream.
"Having him around the club is enormous and I don't think he realises the impact he has on us younger blokes."
Stewart moved to Manly from Wollongong five years ago with older brother Glenn in a package deal.
St George Illawarra missed out on the now NSW fullback because they wouldn't sign his second row brother and now the Stewarts are part of the foundation Manly will build around after Glenn signed an extension earlier this season.
"We moved up five years ago and the club's been good to us so it'd be good to return the favour," said Brett Stewart.
Watmough, a Narrabeen junior, said he too is prepared to remain at the Eagles for his entire career after spurning strong interest from the Dragons.
"It's looking positive. I want to be playing here for many years to come," said Watmough. "I was very close - it was either going to be here or there.
"I'm a maroon-and-white boy through and through and hopefully I can stay a one-club man for the rest of my life."
Manly are currently second on the NRL table and with most of the squad settled for 2008 - only hooker Michael Monaghan is a confirmed departure.
Watmough hopes the team can stick together and chase premiership glory in the immediate future.
"We've got a good feeling around the joint and it's something that we've been building on for a couple of years," he said. "Hopefully we can all stick together and put a few wins on the board."
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How bloody good is this, this could go on for years, hopefully the younger players in 10years time will look up to these 2 in the same way and it just continues and we establish something no other club has
June 19, 2007
THE loyalty of Steve Menzies is starting to rub off at Manly with Anthony Watmough and Brett Stewart both keen to remain one-club players.
Watmough is close to finalising a new three-year deal with the Sea Eagles, while NSW fullback Stewart has been offered a massive contract to keep him at the club until the end of 2012.
NSW prop Brent Kite is also expected to sign a new three-year offer later this week, while discussions are also underway to secure coach Des Hasler until the end of 2010.
Stewart, labelled a "long term marquee player" by club chief executive Grant Mayer, said the influence of Menzies on the current generation of players was inspiring them to show loyalty to the club.
Menzies turned down lucrative offers from Parramatta and had interest from other clubs during his 15-year career and last week set a club record with his 310th first-grade appearance.
"I would like to see myself here for the rest of my career," said Stewart. "The likes of Steve Menzies have done it and to follow in his footsteps would probably be a dream.
"Having him around the club is enormous and I don't think he realises the impact he has on us younger blokes."
Stewart moved to Manly from Wollongong five years ago with older brother Glenn in a package deal.
St George Illawarra missed out on the now NSW fullback because they wouldn't sign his second row brother and now the Stewarts are part of the foundation Manly will build around after Glenn signed an extension earlier this season.
"We moved up five years ago and the club's been good to us so it'd be good to return the favour," said Brett Stewart.
Watmough, a Narrabeen junior, said he too is prepared to remain at the Eagles for his entire career after spurning strong interest from the Dragons.
"It's looking positive. I want to be playing here for many years to come," said Watmough. "I was very close - it was either going to be here or there.
"I'm a maroon-and-white boy through and through and hopefully I can stay a one-club man for the rest of my life."
Manly are currently second on the NRL table and with most of the squad settled for 2008 - only hooker Michael Monaghan is a confirmed departure.
Watmough hopes the team can stick together and chase premiership glory in the immediate future.
"We've got a good feeling around the joint and it's something that we've been building on for a couple of years," he said. "Hopefully we can all stick together and put a few wins on the board."
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How bloody good is this, this could go on for years, hopefully the younger players in 10years time will look up to these 2 in the same way and it just continues and we establish something no other club has
