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Manly confident of retaining Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart
By Stuart Honeysett
October 12, 2009
Manly are confident of retaining both Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart despite the prized backrowers being among a host of star players off contract next season.
The 2008 premiers are expected to announce new deals shortly for halfback Matt Orford and wingers Michael Robertson and David Williams.
The Sea Eagles will then turn their attention to next season with Watmough, Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Josh Perry, Jason King and Kieran Foran all coming off contract.
Watmough, who will go into camp with the Kangaroos on Tuesday for the Four Nations tour, would be a priority after being named Dally M second-rower of the year.
That could leave Stewart available to rival clubs and there has been speculation Parramatta and Sydney Roosters are poised to pounce.
"They've both been so solid for us - particularly over the last three or four years, so we're very keen to keep them," Manly chairman Scott Penn said of his backrowers.
"It's going to be a challenge because we've got three or four internationals off contract at the end of next year."
Watmough's season got off to a shaky start after he was fined for allegedly assaulting a club sponsor but he finished the season as the best backrower in the game.
There was speculation Melbourne Storm were ready to make a play for him given Storm and New South Wales coach Craig Bellamy was impressed by his performances for the Blues.
However, the Storm moved to quash the rumours claiming they would not be able to afford him with so many star players already under their salary cap.
Penn said they were keen to sign Watmough, 26, to a new deal as long as four years, identifying him as a potential future captain of the Sea Eagles.
Orford is the captain of the club but is expected to sign a new contract that will expire in two years.
"He has certainly matured as both a player and a person and from the club's perspective that's a very positive sign," Penn said of Watmough.
"He's a Narrabeen junior, he's always been part of the Sea Eagles family and we'd like to think that would count for something.
"Obviously, there's a commercial reality as well but we'd like to think we can strike that balance."
By Stuart Honeysett
October 12, 2009
Manly are confident of retaining both Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart despite the prized backrowers being among a host of star players off contract next season.
The 2008 premiers are expected to announce new deals shortly for halfback Matt Orford and wingers Michael Robertson and David Williams.
The Sea Eagles will then turn their attention to next season with Watmough, Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Josh Perry, Jason King and Kieran Foran all coming off contract.
Watmough, who will go into camp with the Kangaroos on Tuesday for the Four Nations tour, would be a priority after being named Dally M second-rower of the year.
That could leave Stewart available to rival clubs and there has been speculation Parramatta and Sydney Roosters are poised to pounce.
"They've both been so solid for us - particularly over the last three or four years, so we're very keen to keep them," Manly chairman Scott Penn said of his backrowers.
"It's going to be a challenge because we've got three or four internationals off contract at the end of next year."
Watmough's season got off to a shaky start after he was fined for allegedly assaulting a club sponsor but he finished the season as the best backrower in the game.
There was speculation Melbourne Storm were ready to make a play for him given Storm and New South Wales coach Craig Bellamy was impressed by his performances for the Blues.
However, the Storm moved to quash the rumours claiming they would not be able to afford him with so many star players already under their salary cap.
Penn said they were keen to sign Watmough, 26, to a new deal as long as four years, identifying him as a potential future captain of the Sea Eagles.
Orford is the captain of the club but is expected to sign a new contract that will expire in two years.
"He has certainly matured as both a player and a person and from the club's perspective that's a very positive sign," Penn said of Watmough.
"He's a Narrabeen junior, he's always been part of the Sea Eagles family and we'd like to think that would count for something.
"Obviously, there's a commercial reality as well but we'd like to think we can strike that balance."
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