SMH - Danny Weidler
It's fair to say Brett Stewart is in a happy place. It's called Melbourne. It's his new home. Where he's starting a new life.
He is the managing director of Toko San, his new restaurant project. There was light and happiness in his voice. Something I've not heard for some years.
He has not talked publicly since retiring from the Sea Eagles, but after close to a year out of the public eye he was happy to chat.
"I am enjoying my time after footy," he said. "Sure, Iam missing the boys and the camaraderie ... but there are lots of things I'm not missing — like being in the media, the politics, the scrutiny."
Stewart will be given the send-off he richly deserves next weekend when he is paraded before Eagles fans.
"It means a lot to me because the fans at Manly have been a huge part of my life and it will be great to have that kind of send-off," he said.
"I have so many great memories at the club ... the 2008 and 2011 grand finals ... the fans and the football have been such a big part of my life".
He is the Prince of Brookvale. Few have owned that turf like he has.
What does he think of the nickname? "It makes me smile," he said.
Yet, when I put a standard retirement question to him, I get anything but a stock answer. Would you do it over again?
"I can't answer that," he said. "It's a very good question. I can't give you an honest answer. I'd really have to think about it."
This columnist thinks the answer would be no. Who would want to have their reputation destroyed by a false allegation that he sexually assaulted a young girl.
He successfully sued the media outlet that reported the claim on its front page. But the money doesn't take away the sideways glances or the innuendo.
Before that he was a poster boy of the game. The allegations changed him.
"I didn't know who to be angry at," Stewart said. "Thepeople reading it and believing it or the people writing it. In the end, it was at the media.
"When it first became public, I tried to control it. But there was nothing I could do. I've had the attitude that I can't cry over spilt milk. I can't dwell on it but, yeah, it hurt."
Far more than any injury. His career was nearly cut short in 2010. A serious knee injury gave him a glimpse into the future.
"The doctor told me if I was coming back to him it would be bad and that's what happened almost exactly a year ago," Stewart said. "He told me I was on borrowed time and my latest injury ended it."
After his first big operation, Stewart somehow rediscovered his best. And that's why the send-off will mean so much. Football was always a happy place.
"I had lots of fun at that ground [Brookvale] and it will be great to be back there," he said. "I haven't been to a game since I retired, so it will be nice to be back."
And how does he hope to be remembered. "Just as a bloke who his teammates liked playing with."
It's fair to say Brett Stewart is in a happy place. It's called Melbourne. It's his new home. Where he's starting a new life.
He is the managing director of Toko San, his new restaurant project. There was light and happiness in his voice. Something I've not heard for some years.
He has not talked publicly since retiring from the Sea Eagles, but after close to a year out of the public eye he was happy to chat.
"I am enjoying my time after footy," he said. "Sure, Iam missing the boys and the camaraderie ... but there are lots of things I'm not missing — like being in the media, the politics, the scrutiny."
Stewart will be given the send-off he richly deserves next weekend when he is paraded before Eagles fans.
"It means a lot to me because the fans at Manly have been a huge part of my life and it will be great to have that kind of send-off," he said.
"I have so many great memories at the club ... the 2008 and 2011 grand finals ... the fans and the football have been such a big part of my life".
He is the Prince of Brookvale. Few have owned that turf like he has.
What does he think of the nickname? "It makes me smile," he said.
Yet, when I put a standard retirement question to him, I get anything but a stock answer. Would you do it over again?
"I can't answer that," he said. "It's a very good question. I can't give you an honest answer. I'd really have to think about it."
This columnist thinks the answer would be no. Who would want to have their reputation destroyed by a false allegation that he sexually assaulted a young girl.
He successfully sued the media outlet that reported the claim on its front page. But the money doesn't take away the sideways glances or the innuendo.
Before that he was a poster boy of the game. The allegations changed him.
"I didn't know who to be angry at," Stewart said. "Thepeople reading it and believing it or the people writing it. In the end, it was at the media.
"When it first became public, I tried to control it. But there was nothing I could do. I've had the attitude that I can't cry over spilt milk. I can't dwell on it but, yeah, it hurt."
Far more than any injury. His career was nearly cut short in 2010. A serious knee injury gave him a glimpse into the future.
"The doctor told me if I was coming back to him it would be bad and that's what happened almost exactly a year ago," Stewart said. "He told me I was on borrowed time and my latest injury ended it."
After his first big operation, Stewart somehow rediscovered his best. And that's why the send-off will mean so much. Football was always a happy place.
"I had lots of fun at that ground [Brookvale] and it will be great to be back there," he said. "I haven't been to a game since I retired, so it will be nice to be back."
And how does he hope to be remembered. "Just as a bloke who his teammates liked playing with."
