Golden Eagles call on Manly to fast-track farewells for Brett Stewart and Steve Matai
Matt Logue, The Daily Telegraph
July 16, 2017 12:25pm
GOLDEN Eagles Old Boys’ chairman Mark Bryant has contacted Manly in a bid to fast-track a Brookvale farewell for retired stars Brett Stewart and Steve Matai.
After announcing their retirements at the start of the season, Stewart and Matai are yet to receive a lap of honour in front of the Sea Eagles’ faithful.
In an attempt to ensure it happens, Bryant has contacted the club. He also spoke with Stewart and Matai last week to receive their blessings for a Brookvale farewell.
“Hopefully we can do something for them before the end of the season,” Bryant told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I’ve spoken to Steve and Snake and told them, ‘you boys need a send-off’ and that we’ll approach the club about it. The club is all for it, which is great.
“They are both humble guys, but they really do deserve it for the years of service they’ve given.
“The fans would also love to see two of the club’s greatest ever champions farewelled.”
Stewart and Matai are no longer playing, but they remain on Manly’s 2017 salary cap due to unsettled medical retirement clearances.
The Sea Eagles have been working closely with the NRL for several months in a bid to have the pair’s salaries excluded from this year’s cap. However, this is yet to be resolved.
Despite this, Bryant hopes Stewart and Matai receive a Brookvale send-off before the end of the regular season. He won the 2008 premiership alongside the legendary pair and says they’ll go down as two of Manly’s best.
“For a front-rower there is no better sight than Snake in open space, because you can turn around and start walking back to the goal line to get ready for the kick-off,” Bryant enthused.
“He scored some great tries, but he was a tough footballer too. Some of the try line defence that he made saying those tries was phenomenal.
“And Steve was like having another front-rower in the centres.
“You are coming back into the line after a kick down and you are absolutely buggered and next thing Steve is taking two massive runs to get us on the front foot so you can have a break.
“His work ethic was second to none and rattling blokes – I don’t have to tell you how good he was at that.”
The Golden Eagles will hold their annual Old Boys’ Day when the Sea Eagles take on the Wests Tigers at Lottoland today.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...i/news-story/2f985e273d3d644ac8897121fc84cac2
Matt Logue, The Daily Telegraph
July 16, 2017 12:25pm
GOLDEN Eagles Old Boys’ chairman Mark Bryant has contacted Manly in a bid to fast-track a Brookvale farewell for retired stars Brett Stewart and Steve Matai.
After announcing their retirements at the start of the season, Stewart and Matai are yet to receive a lap of honour in front of the Sea Eagles’ faithful.
In an attempt to ensure it happens, Bryant has contacted the club. He also spoke with Stewart and Matai last week to receive their blessings for a Brookvale farewell.
“Hopefully we can do something for them before the end of the season,” Bryant told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I’ve spoken to Steve and Snake and told them, ‘you boys need a send-off’ and that we’ll approach the club about it. The club is all for it, which is great.
“They are both humble guys, but they really do deserve it for the years of service they’ve given.
“The fans would also love to see two of the club’s greatest ever champions farewelled.”
Stewart and Matai are no longer playing, but they remain on Manly’s 2017 salary cap due to unsettled medical retirement clearances.
The Sea Eagles have been working closely with the NRL for several months in a bid to have the pair’s salaries excluded from this year’s cap. However, this is yet to be resolved.
Despite this, Bryant hopes Stewart and Matai receive a Brookvale send-off before the end of the regular season. He won the 2008 premiership alongside the legendary pair and says they’ll go down as two of Manly’s best.
“For a front-rower there is no better sight than Snake in open space, because you can turn around and start walking back to the goal line to get ready for the kick-off,” Bryant enthused.
“He scored some great tries, but he was a tough footballer too. Some of the try line defence that he made saying those tries was phenomenal.
“And Steve was like having another front-rower in the centres.
“You are coming back into the line after a kick down and you are absolutely buggered and next thing Steve is taking two massive runs to get us on the front foot so you can have a break.
“His work ethic was second to none and rattling blokes – I don’t have to tell you how good he was at that.”
The Golden Eagles will hold their annual Old Boys’ Day when the Sea Eagles take on the Wests Tigers at Lottoland today.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...i/news-story/2f985e273d3d644ac8897121fc84cac2
