EMOTIONAL Manly players have upped the ante on club officials to keep stalwart Glenn Stewart, using last month’s season launch to personally campaign for the 30-year-old to be retained.
The Daily
Telegraph has learned at least two players made their feelings known to general manager David Perry during the 27 February event at Le Kiosk on Shelley Beach.
Multiple sources close to the players have confirmed they approached Perry to warn him of the damage Stewart’s release would inflict on the NRL’s tightest playing group.
Stewart was hoping to secure his future prior to last weekend’s opening round, but has been left waiting for word from the Sea Eagles.
The long-running saga has the potential to alienate the senior playing group, sparking emotions similar to those witnessed at Newcastle when favourite son Matthew Johns was forced-out in 2000.
Heavy backloading of Stewart’s current contract has created much of the angst, with all salary cap increase bonuses for the past four seasons falling due this year.
That means Stewart is on the 2014 books for around $800,000.
It’s understood NRL permission was granted to back-end the contracts of Anthony Watmough and Kieran Foran via a similar formula, meaning they will both absorb a huge proportion of Manly’s salary cap next year.
The players have been willing to postpone their biggest paydays in order to keep the nucleus of a side that’s contested four of the past seven grand finals together.
Their sacrifice not only illustrates the tight bond at Brookavle, but has deepened it.
Watmough and Foran, along with fellow stalwarts Steve Matai and Brett Stewart, know they would be opposing forces if not for such unselfish accounting measures. Hence their fierce loyalty to Stewart.
Speaking to reporters less than a week after the season launch, Foran said the club “needs to do whatever they need to do” to keep the 30-year-old.
‘’I think everyone wants Glenn to stay,’’ Foran said.
“He is great for the club not only on [the field] but off it as well. He and his brother have been a huge part of the success over the years. I think the club needs to do what they need to do to keep them here.’’
Stewart is realistic about his value going forward.
There’s been interest from Canberra, but he’s loathe to leave and would be willing to accept less to finish-up on the Northern Beaches.
With the back-ended deals of Foran and Watmough creating another cap headache next year, Manly are struggling to formulate a deal that reflects his standing as a NSW Origin and Australian Test representative.
The Sea Eagles also need to warehouse cash to restock their depleted front row, and co-captain Jason King is also off contract at the end of this year.
Stewart’s manager Mike Newton was unaware of players fronting officials on his client’s behalf when contacted Thursday night.
He also denied any talks had taken place with St George Illawarra.
“I had a productive meeting with Manly two weeks ago and we’re now waiting to hear back,” Newton said.
“We were hopeful of working something out before the start of the season, but it hasn’t happened. There’s no doubt Glenn wants to stay, so we’ll keep working with the club to try and sort something out.”
Perry said he and other club officials had been approached on numerous occasions by several players concerned about Stewart’s future.
When contacted last night, Perry confirmed he and other club officials had been approached by numerous players on numerous occasions with concerns over Stewart’s future.
Josh Massoud
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/manly-players-warn-club-officials-not-to-cut-glenn-stewart-as-salary-cap-reality-hits-home/story-fn2mcuj6-1226852944246
