Matai, Perry may go

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Matai, Perry may go

• sport
  • Rugby League

26 Feb 10 @ 06:19pm by JOHN GRECO



http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/matai-perry-may-go/

TWO key members of the Sea Eagles’ 2008 premiership-winning squad could be forced to quit Manly as the club moves in to secure four internationals before the season kicks off next month.
Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Jamie Lyon and Kieran Foran are all close to securing long-term deals. Discussions with all parties have been progressing nicely, with all four tipped to stay with the Eagles.
Fellow internationals Steve Matai and Josh Perry are also off contract, with the club battling to keep them. Both are considered valuable members of the Sea Eagles’ squad and, in a perfect world, would be retained.
But there’s no doubt the retention of the four Manly stars could put the squeeze on both Matai and Perry.
“If all those other guys re-sign you would think there wouldn’t be much money left,” Matai’s manager, Gavin Orr, told The Manly Daily on Friday.
“But Manly are pretty good at putting the jigsaw together.
“Steve is probably the most experienced centre at the club at the moment. If Manly weren’t able to keep him, I’m sure there’s plenty of other clubs out there that would be more than happy to have a look at him.”
Manly CEO Graham Lowe admitted it would be a battle for the club to keep a hold of all their stars.
“It’s (the salary cap) tight and needs to be managed very well,” Lowe said.
“The key thing for any player when talking about the following season is to perform in the current season. Performing on the field always decides where your future is going to be.”
Perry has begun negotiating with the club but is after a three-year deal, with the Sea Eagles only prepared to offer two years.
“That’s the stumbling block at the moment,” Perry’s manager, Mark Newton, said.

 

[parra_jesus]

as they say you cant keep everyone , i think manly are re-signing the right players ,sure matia and perry will be missed but not as much as the others..... matai to the warriors , anyone ????

 

[SRB_SEA_EAGLE]

If it came down to keeping just one of these two , id prefer to keep Matai.
Perry = pfft.

 

[Dutchy]

Matai is easily replaced.

 

[caspersparks]

matai over perry any day

 

[kia ora storm]

Matai is a good player but too injury prone...let him go.

 

[Downie]

Would love to see Matai retained. Probably our most underrated player with all the work he does.

 

[KiWi_BoI_15]

Would love to see Matai retained. Probably our most underrated player with all the work he does.

Very true Downie. Question mark on his speed though, puts in his wingers in space a fair bit too.

 

[Harold Bishop]

Matai is a big game player, look at most of the bigger matches we have won over the last 4 or so years, he always seems to come up with 150 + metres.

That being said, young Hoppa would slot in nicely.

 

[GB!]

apart from lyon who will be our 5/8, matai is the best centre we've had since innes IMO
only one in our team who can pull off a real bell-ringer

must be kept

 

[Dutchy]

You have to look at the wider scheme of things. I love Steve, don't get me wrong, he is one of my fave all time Manly players. He isn't getting any younger and his neck and shoulders can only get worse. When I said he is easily replaceable, I mean positionally, his big game form and aura can not be replaced. Manly is now in a transition of change, most people I have spoken to would love a Foran/Hodko halves combo. That will happen in 2011 with Lyon and Farrar as centres.

For 2010, I hope for Manlys sake, Matai rips and tears and stays injury free. I want him to finish his Manly career healthy, not in a neck brace. We have depth in the backs, but not so much the forwards. Kite is ready to move on in my opinion. Re-sign Perry.

 

[GB!]

is suniula still with the club?

i though he had some potential if he was around dessie long enough?