No more Baggage at Sea Eagles
Jason Avedissian
31Aug06
THE days of Manly being a refuge for wayward players are over after the Sea Eagles yesterday rejected speculation they were interested in sacked Warriors forward Sione Faumuina.
He is the second dumped player in a week Manly have distanced themselves from following the sacking of Cowboys forward Mitchell Sargent.
Manly chief executive officer Grant Mayer confirmed the Sea Eagles' non-interest in Faumuina despite reports suggesting the club was keen.
``We've got to make sure we get a good player and a good person,'' Mayer said.
``There's a fair bit of baggage with him (Faumuina) at the moment.
``He's obviously a very talented footballer but we are not prepared to make any offers.''
Mayer's policy of only signing ``good human beings'' is in contrast to the Sea Eagles' past where controversial players like Andrew Walker, John Hopoate and Solomon Haumono found solace at the club.
``You've just got to be very careful,'' Mayer said. ``Players are these days under the spotlight and we've got to make sure the player is in the papers for the right reasons.''
Manly chairman Joe Cross endorsed Mayer's stance.
``As a general rule we are looking to recruit disciplined, intelligent, serious athletes,'' Cross said.
``They have got to meet their requirements as a professional athlete.''
Faumuina, who still had a year to run on his contract at the Warriors, was sacked for an alcohol-related incident during the New Zealand team's victory over the Roosters last weekend.
Mayer said the Sea Eagles would be patient in finding a suitable replacement for retiring captain Ben Kennedy.
``We are sitting back and have pretty much filled our roster,'' he said.
``We are still looking for a back-rower, but if it's not this year, we'll do it next year.''
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah confirmed Faumuina's sacking was over a drinking incident.
