This is Bani's chance to take back the spot, but then how would you justify dropping the current winger who's won the premiership, WCC and is an Aus rep? Â If that happened he'd definately leave Manly...
from news.com.au:
MANLY'S star winger, David "Wolfman" Williams, is likely to miss the first five rounds of this season with a shoulder injury.
Williams sustained the damage in Manly's 28-20 win over English champions Leeds in the World Club Challenge last Monday morning. It's not known if Williams will require surgery.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler will use either new recruit Tony Williams or Michael Bani as Williams' wing replacement.
Manly arrived home yesterday from England with off-contract Williams hoping to have his future secured shortly.
"I tried to leave that all at home while I was in the UK and hopefully it will be all sorted out in the next few weeks," he said.
"I don't know if I'll have something sorted out before the season kicks off but it would be nice so I could then concentrate on things. I certainly won't be looking at the UK - not at this stage of my career."
Meanwhile, Hasler was expecting rival teams to push Manly throughout the season and he even nominated South Sydney as a dark horse.
"They showed some good signs last year, they're a big side and have great defence and good young blokes like (Chris) Sandow and (Issac) Luke and John Sutton," Hasler said. "I think John Sutton is the key for them.
"He just has to play consistent footy and I think he's a real talent.
"They'll really test some sides. I'm surprised people aren't rating them and a few experts have left them out of the eight."
Manly fullback Brett Stewart is coy about the chance of securing back-to-back premierships.
"We aren't getting ahead of ourselves," Stewart said.
"There is still a lot of football ahead of us."
from news.com.au:
MANLY'S star winger, David "Wolfman" Williams, is likely to miss the first five rounds of this season with a shoulder injury.
Williams sustained the damage in Manly's 28-20 win over English champions Leeds in the World Club Challenge last Monday morning. It's not known if Williams will require surgery.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler will use either new recruit Tony Williams or Michael Bani as Williams' wing replacement.
Manly arrived home yesterday from England with off-contract Williams hoping to have his future secured shortly.
"I tried to leave that all at home while I was in the UK and hopefully it will be all sorted out in the next few weeks," he said.
"I don't know if I'll have something sorted out before the season kicks off but it would be nice so I could then concentrate on things. I certainly won't be looking at the UK - not at this stage of my career."
Meanwhile, Hasler was expecting rival teams to push Manly throughout the season and he even nominated South Sydney as a dark horse.
"They showed some good signs last year, they're a big side and have great defence and good young blokes like (Chris) Sandow and (Issac) Luke and John Sutton," Hasler said. "I think John Sutton is the key for them.
"He just has to play consistent footy and I think he's a real talent.
"They'll really test some sides. I'm surprised people aren't rating them and a few experts have left them out of the eight."
Manly fullback Brett Stewart is coy about the chance of securing back-to-back premierships.
"We aren't getting ahead of ourselves," Stewart said.
"There is still a lot of football ahead of us."