Eels warn - Hands off Lyon

[forward pass]

PARRAMATTA last night asked the NRL to investigate Manly for possible anti-tampering involving St Helens centre Jamie Lyon.

Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald contacted NRL chief executive David Gallop and salary cap auditor Ian Schubert to probe Manly's interest in Lyon.
The drama came as incoming Parramatta coach Michael Hagan claimed he had made contact with Lyon about a return to the Eels.
Rugby League Week magazine this week quoted an unnamed Manly official saying: "We were confident we had him [Lyon]."
Fitzgerald read the article and claims Manly may have breached the anti-tampering rules by negotiating with Lyon - still contracted to Parramatta - before the June 30 deadline.
"I have asked the NRL to investigate whether Manly has breached the anti-tampering rules," Fitzgerald said.
"A story has appeared quoting a Manly official saying: 'We were confident we had him'.
"Jamie Lyon is still contracted to Parramatta. He was given a conditional release to join St Helens."
Manly deny any of their officials spoke to the magazine.

"We have complied with all the regulations. We deny having spoken to Jamie or his representatives."
Veteran journalist Tony Adams, who wrote the story, said he would "not reveal his source".
Schubert had contacted Wilson last night.
Wilson said his club would be "absolved".
Meanwhile Hagan spoke to Lyon this week, despite most believing if the former Test centre returned to Australia it would be with Manly.
"I was under the impression he had all but agreed to go to Manly," Hagan said yesterday.
"But I don't know if that is the case.
"The phone call was just touching base with him from a coach's perspective and to get a feel for his plans - to see if he hasn't agreed to anything anywhere else.
"I just wanted to see whether there was some interest there."
Asked if there was, Hagan said: "I think so."
Fitzgerald said his club's senior players would be asked whether they favoured Lyon returning.
Lyon walked out on the club just one match into the 2004 season.
"I'm not saying we're keen or that we're not keen," Fitzgerald said.
"If he is keen to play with Parramatta, if the coach is keen, if the senior players want him back and if he can fit under the salary cap, then we'd consider it."
Eels Test forward Nathan Hindmarsh was cautious about a possible Lyon comeback.
"To tell you the truth, I wasn't too happy with the way he handled it [in 2004]," Hindmarsh said.
"If he [walked out] again, I'd be really p..... off.
"There's nothing to forgive him for - he didn't want to be here. He could have done it

a bit better but I don't hold grudges. "He's a champion and anyone would be happy to have him in their side. The only problem would be where would you fit him in."

The Daily Telegraph
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18645694-23214,00.html

Things are getting interesting??​

 

[Kornstar]

Don't you just love Hindy? Doesn't care who is is talking to, he is always himself..........absolutely love it!!

Lyon is all class, however i would prefer we didn't sign him if it means that we lose B.Smith, Delaney, Green, K.Keating, Inu or Hayne, they are all great talents and it would be upsetting if Lyon ruined any of their chances in the centres/5/8th role.

 

[Stagger eel]

great story..excellent, infact.

a couple of points of interest.

* Hagan admitting to talking to him and hinting that there is a chance he may return.

* if he has agreed to join Manly? this will put Jamie in a very delicate situation, how will handle it leading up to his announcement and the aftermath..

* Hindy's attitude..this is why we love him, he so up and down, black and white about the whole thing and hasn't skirted with the issue.

I just don't think we've heard the last of this story, just quietly.;-)

 

[The Colonel]

* The NRL has cleared Manly of breaching anti-tampering guidelines following concerns from Parramatta that the Sea Eagles had approached former Eels turned St Helens centre Jamie Lyon.

Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald alerted the league that there could have been a potential breach after a report from an un-named Manly official they had lost Lyon to Parramatta.

The Eels released Lyon from his lucrative contract in 2004 but only on the proviso he could not play with or talk to another NRL club until his deal expired at the end of 2006.

"Our investigation has revealed no evidence of a breach of the anti-tampering rules other than unsubstantiated hearsay," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.

"Unless we were provided with more concrete evidence it appears the investigation can go no further at this stage."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18648513%5E2722,00.html

 

[sooperdooper]

it is getting very interesting

 

[PB]

Of the current crop, who was here when he left?

Hindy
Cayless
Vella
Wagon (who is rumored to be going any way)
Peek? (possibly going)
Widders (rumored to be going)
Burt (rumored to be going)
Peterson (going)
O'Dwyer (going)
Cannings (probably going)

If Denis is planning on asking these guys, most of them won't care if he comes back...

 

[The Colonel]

Still, the senior players like Riddell, Cayless, Morrison etc would still need to be consulted. If there is any sense of animosity at all then it could fester into a big problem.

 

[Kornstar]

So basically unless a contract is signed before June 30, there can be no breach of the anti tampering rule.....well that is atleast the way the NRL handle it every single time......

 

[forward pass]

Still, the senior players like Riddell, Cayless, Morrison etc would still need to be consulted. If there is any sense of animosity at all then it could fester into a big problem.

Not sure if Riddell and Morrison would care too much...except form a team harmony point of view.

As for my opinion, I detest and loathe what he did to us....but I would hate to see him in another NRL jersey but ours. Strange I know.

 

[PB]

Not sure if Riddell and Morrison would care too much...except form a team harmony point of view.

As for my opinion, I detest and loathe what he did to us....but I would hate to see him in another NRL jersey but ours. Strange I know.

Funny. I couldn't care less about the bloke like you, but if he is in an NRL jersey i want it to be in any other jersey but ours.

 

[eloquentEEL]

I'm surprised he hasn't been linked to Yawnion yet

 

[Glenn]

Let the moaning prick go to Manly..probably walk out when he realises they have no chance of making the eight

 

[stiffmeister]

hands off Jamie, again, come back Lyon, the stiff wants you at Parra

 

[Glen]

Damn, I've pretty much stopped caring about this whole issue but I would have loved to see Manly get busted for tampering with Lyon

 

[Hurriflatch]

McKinnon was also at Parra when Lyon walked
as was Grothe

Morris was aswell but like other he looks like leaving

and a few of the younger guys like Tim Smith were coming through the grades

 

[Bigfella]

Yep me too. The thing that really irks me is their arrogance in all of this. They orchestrated the walk-out, then manipulated the campaign against Smith in an attempt to get sympathy for Lyon ... A few people in the background (with no offical capacity) at their club are above all the rules ...\

He is obviously not the smartest and was pretty emotional at the time with his partner having a miscarriage. I could forgive him and probably even accept him back.

Not to mention he is a supreme talent. I can;t believe Rugby havenpt approached him. In addition to being the best attacking and defensive centre (and probably 3/4) in the game - he also has a magnificent short kicking game. He would be the first league player I would try to poach (now that Joey has ruled out the switch).

 

[Clarkieel]

the stiff wantsa a lot of things he just aint going to get

 

[True EEL]

a few points....

i stress again, if Lyon "does indeed" want back in at Parramatta, the club would be negligent not to do their very best to accomodate him - under strict coditions that he never, ever pull another stunt like that again

Hagan certainly seems to be on the job so to speak, wish other coaches were

at the end of the day - although i concede you don't want turmoil in your club with player fueds - the players are simply "employees" of the club and have no real say in who the club tries to sign, so don't put too much into speculation about what the players want or do not want

lastly....watch the bandwagoners come out now since Hindmarsh has "grudgingly" endorsed a jamie Lyon return to Parramatta

 

[Stagger eel]

a few points....

i stress again, if Lyon "does indeed" want back in at Parramatta, the club would be negligent not to do their very best to accomodate him - under strict coditions that he never, ever pull another stunt like that again

Hagan certainly seems to be on the job so to speak, wish other coaches were

at the end of the day - although i concede you don't want turmoil in your club with player fueds - the players are simply "employees" of the club and have no real say in who the club tries to sign, so don't put too much into speculation about what the players want or do not want

lastly....watch the bandwagoners come out now since Hindmarsh has "grudgingly" endorsed a jamie Lyon return to Parramatta

I'm sure if he was to return it wuld be under very strict conditions, infact I wouldn't surprised if they order him to attend the football office everyday at a particular time :lol: .

I think this a a unique case Truey, I think that every player who played with Jamie and is still with the club, will and should be consulted, I do sense that if he really wants to come back then they'll be a place at the club for him.

I'm still very sceptical.

 

[True EEL]

eelavation,

i agree that this may be a unique case also and i'm also very sceptical aswell, but like everything, time will tell and that time should be June 30

hopefully i might be able to find out what really is going on with all of this......