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Manly after Pearce

El Diablo

Post Whore
Messages
94,107
http://www.skynews.com.au/sport/article.aspx?id=271892

Rooster's Peace meets with Manly sponsor
Updated: 19:57, Thursday October 9, 2008

Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce has been asked by the club to explain a secret meeting he had with a Manly sponsor two weeks ago.

The Eagles are on the look out for a long term replacement for Matt Orford and Pearce fits the bill.

Senior Rooster player Craig Fitzgibbon says his club can't afford to let Pearce go.

'I wouldn't imagine they're going to,' he said.

'I hope not'.

Coach Brad Fittler has admitted he's fronted Pearce about the secret meeting.

Pearce reportly told Fittler it was just a chance meeting.

And Fittler says, he remains confident Pearce will stay with the Roosters.
 
Messages
33,280
Weidler is a moron who is always spreading baseless rumours, I would bet my last dollar that this is the case here.

as a reporter his job is to REPORT things believe it or not ... weidler is the middle man if you will ...

remember the craig gower saga? ... now STFU ... i already told you your argument was invalid
 

fat joe

Juniors
Messages
108
as a reporter his job is to REPORT things believe it or not ... weidler is the middle man if you will ...

remember the craig gower saga? ... now STFU ... i already told you your argument was invalid

Yes, his job as a reporter is to compile reports of events based upon reasonable evidence. 99% of his stories are baseless rumours, and this sounds like one of those occasions.

And Gower - good, so he got one thing right...
 

Eagle_Rocker

Juniors
Messages
546
We've got a couple of young halves in Hodkinson, Cherry-Evans and Foran who I think they are grooming for when Orford moves on
 
Messages
2,016
i thought Carney was heading there... perhaps his repeated offenses have scared the eagles off

anywho, its a nothing story, meeting their sponsors on a chance encounter... is this seriously news?

I thought of Carney too ... maybe this is just sussing his interest in case they need a Plan B.
 

El Diablo

Post Whore
Messages
94,107
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/new...-to-lure-pearce/2008/10/09/1223145543084.html

Sea Eagles deny rumours of ownership change and bid to lure Pearce

Andrew Webster and Glenn Jackson | October 10, 2008

THE businessman who made an audacious attempt to buy a significant stake in NRL premiers Manly this season held a secret meeting with Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce last month about enticing him to the club.

Just days after Sea Eagles owners Max Delmege and Scott Penn were lauded for helping the club win the premiership, it has emerged that businessman Robert Melhem wants a slice of the action.

Pearce's manager Mike Newton is understood to be close to Melhem, who is friends with former captain Ben Kennedy and has been celebrating with Sea Eagles players since their grand final victory over the Storm on Sunday.

News of the meeting has infuriated the premiers as much as the Roosters, with angry Manly chief executive Grant Mayer denying the club wanted Pearce or that the club's ownership structure would be changing.

"Mitchell Pearce is not coming to this club," Mayer said. "I can guarantee this club will continue under the present ownership structure of Max Delmege and Scott Penn.

"We had an approach from a third party during the season, and he made a presentation to the board. When a club has been successful like ours has, people see it as an opportunity.

"But the ownership structure of the club is not going to change given the work they [Delmege and Penn] have done in securing the club financially."

Delmege said: "The last thing we need is for Robert Melhem to be involved. Why would we change the structure of the club now that we've been so successful? We're not interested in Mitchell Pearce. I'd know."

Pearce, who was named the Roosters' player of the year on Wednesday night, has another two years to run on his contract.

Channel Nine reported last night that Roosters coach Brad Fittler fronted Pearce about the meeting but the Herald has been told Pearce informed his coach about the meeting the following morning.

Newton emphatically denied Pearce wanted out of the club, where he shot to prominence this year, leading to his State of Origin debut for NSW in game three.

"It's categorically incorrect," Newton said. "He's happy at the club. He's totally content, totally at ease. He's happy with Freddy, happy in the environment, and happy with the group of players."

The player manager confirmed he had introduced Pearce to Melhem before Pearce's sister's 21st birthday but downplayed its significance.

"Me and Mitchell had a beer with a bloke who's a former sponsor of Manly before Mitchell attended his sister's 21st," Newton said. "I haven't spoken to [Manly football manager] Steve Gigg, I haven't spoken to Grant Mayer, I haven't spoken to Des Hasler.

"This happened six or eight weeks ago, and it's insignificant. He's not even a [current] sponsor. He has no official capacity with Manly. He's a personal friend of mine. We had a beer. It was literally one beer."

Pearce is understood to be on holidays with his father, former international Wayne Pearce, and could not be contacted, while Melhem was not immediately available for comment last night.

Delmege and Penn have widely been acknowledged as the saviours of the club after the failed merger with North Sydney under the banner of the Northern Eagles had it on the brink of collapse.

Mayer said he was angry about the revelations of Melhem's involvement because it again cast Manly as a mercenary chasing the game's elite.

"All I can say is here we go again," he said.

Meanwhile, Greg Bird's suspension from Cronulla will extend into the pre-season after his court case over an alleged assault on his girlfriend was adjourned until November 20, three days after his Sharks teammates are due to return to training.
 

Ryan

Juniors
Messages
923
Des will groom Kieran Foran into a awesome 1/2. I know he's playing 5/8 right now, but plays an almost 1/2 backs game.

A big NO to Pearce from my perspective for us.
A big NO to Carney from my perspective for us. For obvious reasons.

We have enough talent now in our junior squads.

I still reckon we should give Tony Williams back to Paramatta for that matter.
 

Lungfish

Juniors
Messages
338
Des will groom Kieran Foran into a awesome 1/2. I know he's playing 5/8 right now, but plays an almost 1/2 backs game.

A big NO to Pearce from my perspective for us.
A big NO to Carney from my perspective for us. For obvious reasons.

We have enough talent now in our junior squads.

I still reckon we should give Tony Williams back to Paramatta for that matter.


I think Tony will be a great buy! Des will play him in the backrow next year....Buy of the year! :D
 

Lungfish

Juniors
Messages
338
Same goes for William Hopoate...hes getting $300K as a 17 yr old...he needs to perform big time

Its 100k a year for three years not for a year.If thats what you meant then disregard.He played a few games in Toyota Cup and ripped through guys 3 years older,im sure he will handle First grade then NSW and Australia.

Tony Williams will be a bargain buy.He was on the wing and he said himself that hes not a winger.I trust Des and Noel because they havent made a bad move yet and know where his best position is.
 

Ram Man

Juniors
Messages
1,202
Its 100k a year for three years not for a year.If thats what you meant then disregard.He played a few games in Toyota Cup and ripped through guys 3 years older,im sure he will handle First grade then NSW and Australia.

Tony Williams will be a bargain buy.He was on the wing and he said himself that hes not a winger.I trust Des and Noel because they havent made a bad move yet and know where his best position is.

That is still a ridiculous amount of money to be spending on a teenager who is untested in an open age arena
 

El Diablo

Post Whore
Messages
94,107
Its 100k a year for three years not for a year.If thats what you meant then disregard.He played a few games in Toyota Cup and ripped through guys 3 years older,im sure he will handle First grade then NSW and Australia.

Tony Williams will be a bargain buy.He was on the wing and he said himself that hes not a winger.I trust Des and Noel because they havent made a bad move yet and know where his best position is.

how is $200k for an untried rookie a bargain?
 

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