Just found this extract from an article, will no doubt make us very, very unpopular at NRL headquarters
"THE NRL is furious at Manly and the New Zealand Warriors for refusing to support the NRL All-Stars match against the Indigenous Dream Team on the Gold Coast in February. The match is being played as part of a spectacular opening to the season and is already almost a sell-out at Skilled Park. Last week, Manly coach Des Hasler and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary decided their players would not be made available. "It's terribly disappointing," an NRL official told us. "Part of the profits are going to various charities and another $1.6 million was going to the clubs - $100,000 each. That's money Manly and the Warriors will now be missing out on."
I am very happy with the line we have taken on this personally, imo the match has turned into a circus, and although we may miss out on $100,000, better that than lose a player like Watmough in a nothing match
"THE NRL is furious at Manly and the New Zealand Warriors for refusing to support the NRL All-Stars match against the Indigenous Dream Team on the Gold Coast in February. The match is being played as part of a spectacular opening to the season and is already almost a sell-out at Skilled Park. Last week, Manly coach Des Hasler and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary decided their players would not be made available. "It's terribly disappointing," an NRL official told us. "Part of the profits are going to various charities and another $1.6 million was going to the clubs - $100,000 each. That's money Manly and the Warriors will now be missing out on."
I am very happy with the line we have taken on this personally, imo the match has turned into a circus, and although we may miss out on $100,000, better that than lose a player like Watmough in a nothing match