Manly slap Watmough with $10,000 fine
Greg Prichard | March 13, 2009
MANLY second-rower Anthony Watmough is set to be fined $10,000 by the club for engaging in a physical confrontation with a sponsor at the club's season launch last Friday.
The alleged breach of the club's code of conduct came on the same day that star fullback Brett Stewart was allegedly involved in a sexual assault. Stewart was later charged, sending Manly spiralling into crisis.
Watmough is alleged to have punched sponsor Paul Durazza, who said he had objected to insulting comments allegedly made to his daughter, Sarah.
Manly chairman Scott Penn said yesterday the disciplinary action was being carried out internally. "There are several possible outcomes under the code of conduct - an official warning, a direction to undertake counselling, a fine, a suspension or termination of a contract. It won't be a suspension or termination.
"We've talked to Anthony about this, and it will all happen in due course over the next few days. We won't be publicly announcing the penalty."
The Herald understands the club has settled on a $10,000 fine for Watmough, who is a key member of the team for its first-round game against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night.
The Sea Eagles will enter that game without Stewart, who has been stood down from playing by the NRL for the first four rounds for breaching its code of conduct in relation to behaviour influenced by the consumption of alcohol, also at the club launch.
Manly's pre-season preparation for the defence of the crown they won with last year's 40-0 thrashing of Melbourne in the grand final had gone near perfectly until the season launch debacle. It included a rare win by an Australian team in the World Club Challenge, over English club Leeds.
From the outside, the drama appears capable of being a significant hurdle to the club's hopes of making it back-to-back premierships, but Manly coach Des Hasler said yesterday he was convinced it would not put his players off their game.
"My players, the same as my staff, know our working week back to front," Hasler said. "And regardless of what else has gone on, our preparation has been normal. Nothing has changed. It hasn't been hampered much at all - apart from maybe having to flush a photographer or two out of the bushes.
"We are looking at this season the same way as we have looked at it all along. We've got good depth, and our goals haven't changed. We were good enough to win the competition last year, and we believe we're good enough to win it again this year, if we're prepared to do the hard work."
Hasler refused to discuss Stewart's situation. He continues to support the player, but his more pressing concern is to get the team ready for the game tomorrow night.
"Our off-season preparation and our trial form in the UK, where we won both our games, should hold us in good stead going into the first round," he said. "But we will be going in against a team that will come out firing, to show their home fans what they've got. It should make for a good game."
The Bulldogs have been largely rebuilt following the recruitment of a number of established players. Hasler rebuilt the Sea Eagles when he took over as coach in 2004, but although he conceded it took time to develop a team, he believes the Bulldogs can come together relatively quickly.
"They've got experience in key positions," Hasler said. "[Luke] Patten was already there at fullback, and now [Brett] Kimmorley is there at halfback and [Michael] Ennis at hooker. That makes them dangerous."
Hasler confirmed Michael Robertson would switch from wing to fullback to cover for Stewart, but refused to say whether Shane Neumann - named as 18th man in the side that originally included Stewart - would come into the team.
Club officials are keeping in regular contact with Stewart, in an attempt to keep up his spirits. The club is ready to provide him with expert counselling should he require it, but that has not been deemed necessary at this stage. It is understood Stewart did not train with the team yesterday.
Penn said no other Manly players were facing disciplinary action following the season launch.
