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Article from: The Daily Telegraph
By Iain Payten
June 30, 2007
MANLY icon Steve Menzies believes while it may be unlikely the Sea Eagles will need Ben Kennedy to emerge from retirement this season, if anyone is capable of a comeback it's his passionate former teammate.
Kennedy was persuaded by coach Des Hasler on Thursday to sign a playing contract for $3 as the club's insurance policy against injury, a move that caught even his Sea Eagles mates by surprise yesterday.
Manly confirmed the deal done prior to the NRL's June 30 deadline yesterday on its website, after fans, sponsors, and even nervous bookmakers, scrambled for more information on the story broken in The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
Menzies, who was last year named alongside Kennedy in Manly's all-time Dream Team, said while the club would need to be in "dire straits" to call on the former Kangaroo backrower, he had no doubt "BK" could play NRL football again after 10 months in retirement.
"If anyone can do it, he's the type of bloke," Menzies said yesterday.
"He's naturally strong enough. Obviously it would be a big ask, and a rare scenario for something like this to unfold.
"The club would have to be in dire straits to call on him, but in saying that, if anyone can do it off the short run, it's him.
"He's pretty naturally fit, but he'd love the challenge I suppose."
Kennedy, 33, has been running a fruit business in Brisbane since calling time on his 11-year NRL career last season.
It's understood the 2006 Dally M lock of the year has been keeping fit, but would need to hit the weights to feel comfortable playing again.
Manly and NSW fullback Brett Stewart said he'd love to get the chance to trail Kennedy again for some juicy offloads.
"It'd be nice to run next to him on the field again," Stewart said.
"It's very surprising actually, I hadn't heard anything about it. As far I as I knew he was still up in Queensland doing his fruit."
Menzies said he was in contact with Kennedy yesterday wanting to know if he was now eligible for the Sea Eagles' end of season trip.
"He hadn't thought of that," Menzies said. "I sent a text to him, saying he loves the cash that much he can't get away. He's retired and he still wants $3 more from the club."
Kennedy, who acted as a mentor to many young Manly forwards during his playing days, has been down to Sea Eagles games several times and, hopes Menzies, will be around in some role for finals action.
"He still really loves the place and feels part of the team," Menzies said.
"I am sure Dessie has got something in his mind to have blokes like him being influential people around the club at the right time.
"Whether that's in his little contract I don't know. We do have to make him work for his $3. He's got to do something.
"Maybe pump up the footies."
As for the June 29 phone calls from Hasler to Menzies when he retires, the veteran said: "I'd be asking for $6 mate. Not a dollar less."
By Iain Payten
June 30, 2007
MANLY icon Steve Menzies believes while it may be unlikely the Sea Eagles will need Ben Kennedy to emerge from retirement this season, if anyone is capable of a comeback it's his passionate former teammate.
Kennedy was persuaded by coach Des Hasler on Thursday to sign a playing contract for $3 as the club's insurance policy against injury, a move that caught even his Sea Eagles mates by surprise yesterday.
Manly confirmed the deal done prior to the NRL's June 30 deadline yesterday on its website, after fans, sponsors, and even nervous bookmakers, scrambled for more information on the story broken in The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
Menzies, who was last year named alongside Kennedy in Manly's all-time Dream Team, said while the club would need to be in "dire straits" to call on the former Kangaroo backrower, he had no doubt "BK" could play NRL football again after 10 months in retirement.
"If anyone can do it, he's the type of bloke," Menzies said yesterday.
"He's naturally strong enough. Obviously it would be a big ask, and a rare scenario for something like this to unfold.
"The club would have to be in dire straits to call on him, but in saying that, if anyone can do it off the short run, it's him.
"He's pretty naturally fit, but he'd love the challenge I suppose."
Kennedy, 33, has been running a fruit business in Brisbane since calling time on his 11-year NRL career last season.
It's understood the 2006 Dally M lock of the year has been keeping fit, but would need to hit the weights to feel comfortable playing again.
Manly and NSW fullback Brett Stewart said he'd love to get the chance to trail Kennedy again for some juicy offloads.
"It'd be nice to run next to him on the field again," Stewart said.
"It's very surprising actually, I hadn't heard anything about it. As far I as I knew he was still up in Queensland doing his fruit."
Menzies said he was in contact with Kennedy yesterday wanting to know if he was now eligible for the Sea Eagles' end of season trip.
"He hadn't thought of that," Menzies said. "I sent a text to him, saying he loves the cash that much he can't get away. He's retired and he still wants $3 more from the club."
Kennedy, who acted as a mentor to many young Manly forwards during his playing days, has been down to Sea Eagles games several times and, hopes Menzies, will be around in some role for finals action.
"He still really loves the place and feels part of the team," Menzies said.
"I am sure Dessie has got something in his mind to have blokes like him being influential people around the club at the right time.
"Whether that's in his little contract I don't know. We do have to make him work for his $3. He's got to do something.
"Maybe pump up the footies."
As for the June 29 phone calls from Hasler to Menzies when he retires, the veteran said: "I'd be asking for $6 mate. Not a dollar less."
