Honeymoon over for two Manly greats

[Mitch]

7th Tackle: Honeymoon over for two Manly greats

7Sport on April 20, 2017, 7:00 am

Manly host just five more games at Brookvale this season and the opportunity to parade retired legends Steve Matai and Brett Stewart looks lost.

VIDEO 7th Tackle: Unsolved futures for Widdop, Foran and Reynolds
While Stewart has spent a lot of time in Melbourne this year to work on his restaurant venture, Matai has been overseas in Hawaii getting married.

He's back on the Northern Beaches now but is unlikely to rejoin the club in a working capacity.

His replacement – rookie centre Brian Kelly – recently confessed that he'd never met Matai before.

Stewart has been unsighted at the club's Narrabeen headquarters despite the fact that he, too, is on the payroll this year.

Still under contract on full pay, both players are obliged to do as much as 20 hours work – coaching, promotion or community work – for the club but neither has been asked to lift a finger.

We also understand Stewart was happy to be absent after falling out with a 'senior' member of the Sea Eagles administration staff.

Matai is now set to move to northern NSW to be closer to his new wife's family now that they've tied the knot.

Club officials are still keen to hold a special farewell party at Brookvale later this year, but the guests of honour don't appear keen to RSVP.

 

[mave]

Sad way to go out, for both of them.

 

[TagMonster]

Disappointing. I can see Skivvy potentially coming back for a farewell but Snake seems to be very jaded with the Club. Hopefully they can come to grips with what happened and the club gives them the appropriate farewell.

At least the club seems to be doing them a solid by allowing them to transition into life after the NRL whilst still being paid in full for literally nothing. Maybe the players will see that and say good bye to the fans that still love them even if they are pissed at the club in general.

 

[The Who]

I don't understand it.
Why wouldn't the club insist these two fulfil their contracts by doing the 20 hours a week?
Why wouldn't the club hold a farewell celebration for them at Brookie?

 

[Mals]

Disappointing. I can see Skivvy potentially coming back for a farewell but Snake seems to be very jaded with the Club. Hopefully they can come to grips with what happened and the club gives them the appropriate farewell.

At least the club seems to be doing them a solid by allowing them to transition into life after the NRL whilst still being paid in full for literally nothing. Maybe the players will see that and say good bye to the fans that still love them even if they are pissed at the club in general.

"Come to grips with what happened" I'm intrigued by what you mean by this statement? Are you referring to injury that has finished their careers? Or the club (as a collective) allegedly not wanting them around the 2017 playing group?

As a long time Manly supporter and member I will be writing to Tim Cleary asking what the hell is going on with the farewell for these two champions at Brookie.

 

[mave]

Well from the article, "the guests of honour dont appear to keen to RSVP"..
Seems more a choice by the two players, rather than the club.

As to forcing them to do the 20 hours promo, etc..seems rather pointless if they dont want to be there.

 

[Mitch]

Interesting to see who the 'senior' admin staff member was that Brett had a fall out with. I think most would have a good guess as to who that was.

 

[Simonmyers11]

Stewert has been disinterested in the club for a couple of years now. You think he would be around to help Toms first full year at the back. Pretty disappointing not too show any interest in the club when you are still under contract being paid 700k. Bet we wouldn't have seen the same from Ballin for example.

 

[Fluffy]

I don't understand it.
Why wouldn't the club insist these two fulfil their contracts by doing the 20 hours a week?
Why wouldn't the club hold a farewell celebration for them at Brookie?

Great look that would be, can just hear the load speaker now. "Everyone please farewell our 2 greats Brett Stewart and Steve Matai. Neither of them wanted to be here to day so here is a ball boy taking their place on the lap of honour"

 

[Loobs]

I don't understand it.
Why wouldn't the club insist these two fulfil their contracts by doing the 20 hours a week?
Why wouldn't the club hold a farewell celebration for them at Brookie?

I think they are letting them do as they please so they don't fight whatever final outcome the club proposed to the NRL.

Kind of quid pro quo except its something for nothing, although in this case the value of their doing nothing may actually mean something

 

[Andrew..]

I thought the blood letting of Toovey's dismissal was supposed to bring harmony back to the disenfranchised playing group.
If the boys were forced to retire because of injury, why are they so aggrieved at the club ?

 

[Woodsie]

Speculation is fine until someone's reputation is damaged. Whatever the situation is, remember both sides are competent adults and both sides appear happy to let the current situation continue.

Sad for us fans.

 

[globaleagle]

Congrats Skivvy on getting married!

Maybe mgt is 'allowing' them not to do the 20 hours per week....so they can turn around and say: "Hey you didn't show up for work, no pay for you guys!"




Yeah I doubt it as well. 😛


Though if you add up all the weeks lost for injuries and suspensions....maybe an hour a week or so isn't too much to ask.

But, I'd rather a happy playing group so it is what it is.

 

[HoldenV8]

Stewert has been disinterested in the club for a couple of years now. You think he would be around to help Toms first full year at the back. Pretty disappointing not too show any interest in the club when you are still under contract being paid 700k. Bet we wouldn't have seen the same from Ballin for example.

IIRC Matty Ballin showed up with his family at Brookvale for Killer's farewell last year despite Killer not actually playing and Matty still being a contracted Tigpies player.

Snake's disinterest started when Gifty wasn't offered a contract and when 2 other members of the player clique, Choc and Foran, both pissed off to doesn't-matta (also coincided with DCE taking on a leadership role within the team). And the falling out with a senior administration member...as @Mitch said, I think we all know who that is and its the reason I've been hearing about him having the $hits with the club, he felt like those who supported him behind the scenes have turned their back on him so why should he bother with them?

Steve Matai is a strange one though as I've never heard of any bad blood between himself and the club. I can understand about him getting married and moving away from the area to be close to his wife's family, but surely the club could use him to spread the word about Manly and possibly as a talent scout.

 

[TagMonster]

"Come to grips with what happened" I'm intrigued by what you mean by this statement? Are you referring to injury that has finished their careers? Or the club (as a collective) allegedly not wanting them around the 2017 playing group?

As a long time Manly supporter and member I will be writing to Tim Cleary asking what the hell is going on with the farewell for these two champions at Brookie.

I was referring to their injuries ending their careers before they were ready to hang up the boots.

 

[Shoe1]

Can we at least have some video of them on the big screen pre game, with gratuitous slow motion segments and a lame soundtrack?

 

[madmax]

Well from the article, "the guests of honour dont appear to keen to RSVP"..
Seems more a choice by the two players, rather than the club.

As to forcing them to do the 20 hours promo, etc..seems rather pointless if they dont want to be there.

If they don't want to be there then why should the club keep paying their salaries?? Just sayin'....................

 

[HappilyManly]

Even Killer was loath to do the farewell lap. Most of these guys are not comfortable when exposed to tge masses

Snake and Matai will always be remembered with admiration by the Fans

Congrats on Skivvi's marriage

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I hate to say this but I honestly don't care any more.

These words ( if true) just upset me.

I'd rather remember the good times , and let's just move on.

 

[HappilyManly]

Manly could make a great day at the next Scumo's Brookie game in 2018.

10th anniversary of the 40- 0 GF Team

Then all the Fans can cheer these Manly Legends and they have each other to share the limelight