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Manly not concerned with Lyon's past.
Manly is confident there will be no repeat of Jamie Lyon's controversial exit from his former club Parramatta after the Sea Eagles signed the prized NRL recruit to a four-year deal.
Lyon, who's new contract is worth a reported $2 million, walked out of the Eels after just one round of the 2004 NRL season, returning to his home town of Wee Waa in country NSW saying he was sick of city life.
He later signed with English Super League side St Helens after Parramatta refused to release him to play for a rival NRL club, before stating his interest to return to Australia for the 2007 season when his original contract with the Eels had elapsed.
Manly executive chairman Paul Cummings believes Lyon's past was of no concern for his future at Brookvale. "Not in the slightest," Cummings said when asked if he had any concerns about the manner of Lyon's departure from Parramatta. "I don't want to go on with what happened at other clubs, but obviously if a player left like that to us, we would be disappointed too.
"I think the kid obviously had his reasons for not wanting to stay at Parramatta. "But I would say one thing about him, it was a credit for him to go across to the UK, which is about as far as you can go, and then produce such bewildering form.
"Everyone has spoken of him as being one of the greatest players in Super League today."
"He obviously has carved a niche over there, and we're looking forward to him carrying on that form with us."
Lyon's close connection with Manly recruitment officer Noel Cleal, who the 24-year-old stayed with when he first came to Sydney from Wee Waa, has been reported as a major factor in the former Australian Test centre wanting to come to Manly.Cummings admitted it was a factor, but not the deciding one in Lyon's decision. "He contacted Noel over there... and felt the coaching style at Manly would suit his play, which is a credit to Des Hasler and the coaching team," Cummings said."Obviously it would be silly of me not to say (Cleal's) association was not an important factor, but it wasn't the deciding factor."
Manly is confident there will be no repeat of Jamie Lyon's controversial exit from his former club Parramatta after the Sea Eagles signed the prized NRL recruit to a four-year deal.
Lyon, who's new contract is worth a reported $2 million, walked out of the Eels after just one round of the 2004 NRL season, returning to his home town of Wee Waa in country NSW saying he was sick of city life.
He later signed with English Super League side St Helens after Parramatta refused to release him to play for a rival NRL club, before stating his interest to return to Australia for the 2007 season when his original contract with the Eels had elapsed.
Manly executive chairman Paul Cummings believes Lyon's past was of no concern for his future at Brookvale. "Not in the slightest," Cummings said when asked if he had any concerns about the manner of Lyon's departure from Parramatta. "I don't want to go on with what happened at other clubs, but obviously if a player left like that to us, we would be disappointed too.
"I think the kid obviously had his reasons for not wanting to stay at Parramatta. "But I would say one thing about him, it was a credit for him to go across to the UK, which is about as far as you can go, and then produce such bewildering form.
"Everyone has spoken of him as being one of the greatest players in Super League today."
"He obviously has carved a niche over there, and we're looking forward to him carrying on that form with us."
Lyon's close connection with Manly recruitment officer Noel Cleal, who the 24-year-old stayed with when he first came to Sydney from Wee Waa, has been reported as a major factor in the former Australian Test centre wanting to come to Manly.Cummings admitted it was a factor, but not the deciding one in Lyon's decision. "He contacted Noel over there... and felt the coaching style at Manly would suit his play, which is a credit to Des Hasler and the coaching team," Cummings said."Obviously it would be silly of me not to say (Cleal's) association was not an important factor, but it wasn't the deciding factor."
