Michael Monaghan safe in Cancun car park

[chileman]

"Manly captain Michael Monaghan, his brother Joel, Jye Mullane, Stuart Webb and two friends are confirmed to be holding up in an underground car park as hurricane Wilma tears through Mexican seaside resort of Cancun.

The club has been in constant contact with Michael’s parents, Mary and Stewart, who have been receiving text messages from Michael and his brother.

As late as this morning Michael reported that even though the eye of the hurricane had passed they were unable to move due to the high winds and water. The six Australians have sort shelter in an underground car park in what has been described as shocking conditions.

There are some fears for Michael’s health as the car park is flooded with at least 6 inches of water and he is dressed only in a pair of shorts.

AAP reports that the Australian Embassy in Mexico had been notified of the Australians in the stricken area and would endeavour to make contact with them."

 

[skeepe]

Funnily enough, in the newspaper this morning Peter Peters is quoted as saying that he's spoken to Joel Monaghan's father... why would he say Joel? You know, what with Michael being such a vital member of the team and all.

 

[Raider Ultra]

Monaghan's *edtied*

 

[Mzilikazi]

Why do you say that Ultra? I consistently hear similar rumours, but I've often wondered what prompts them.

 

[Raider Ultra]

A certain incident that took place at Bruce Stadium last year, don't always believe what the papers say.

 

[chileman]

ADAM LUCIUS
25oct05

MANLY rugby league captain Michael Monaghan has revealed how he and a group of NRL players feared for their lives as hurricane Wilma threatened to destroy their makeshift shelter.

Monaghan with brother and Roosters winger Joel, Manly five-eighth Jye Mullane, new South Sydney hooker Stuart Webb and friends Simon Davies and Grant Trouville were trapped for four days as the category four storm hit the Mexican resort town of Cancun. The group stayed huddled together in pitch dark ness in a cinema as the hurricane reached its peak.

Worried the complex was going to be flattened, they shifted to a flooded underground car park to wait out the storm.

The cinema's roof was eventually blown off and the building collapsed.

After two days in the car park the group has now been shifted to safety at Cancun's Gran Costa Real Hotel.

Speaking about the terrifying ordeal for the first time, Monaghan told The Manly Daily last night he thought the hurricane was about to demolish the cinema in which they had sought refuge.

``Yeah, we were pretty worried, mate,'' he said.

``Five of the cinemas had already been evacuated because the ceilings had been blown away or were flooded and the cinema we were in didn't look like it would last much longer.

``One of the other cinemas was only evacuated about a minute before the roof blew off so at any time we were expecting ours to go.''

Describing the conditions as ``horrific'' Monaghan, dressed only in shorts for four days, said the group tried to keep spirits up by playing footy with fellow survivors in the cinema.

``We used a beach ball to play and the footy was on early the first day. We also played cards when we could find a torch,'' he said.

``We set up an Aussie embassy and tried to have a bit of fun.

``But most of the time we were just trying to stick together and not get separated.

``Once food ran out it got pretty crazy in there.''

``There were 500 people in the car park and at the end of the two days it was filthy from garbage and dirty water.

``Young kids were sleeping on top of garbage and walking in their own urine it was tough on the kids.

``People smashed windows of cars to find a place to sleep while the rest of the families slept on roofs and bonnets of cars.''

The footballers eventually escaped the car park to visit a supermarket, filling an empty suitcase with as much food as they could buy.

They then shared the groceries with fellow survivors amid reports shops were being looted and people robbed of their belongings.

With Cancun Airport closed, it's not clear when the players will be able to leave to start their journey back to Australia.

``I can't wait to get back to Manly that's where I belong,'' Monaghan said.

Sea Eagles football manager Peter Peters said the club was relieved to hear the players were safe and well and planning to return home soon.

``It's been a traumatic few days but the support network was superb,'' he said.

``Thanks to mobile phones, the families involved were able to keep in contact and get updates and find out they were OK. It sounds like hell over there and they'll be glad when they touch down at Sydney Airport.''

 

[effnic]

A certain incident that took place at Bruce Stadium last year, don't always believe what the papers say.

well speak up we know the papers side lets here yours.

 

[lotti]

Monas ever heard of leaving a place to catch a plane home? Summer training starts soon guys so head home ASAP, either that or go and join Beaver, Ox and Belly in Hawaii.

 

[The Nulla #2]

monahan is crap, hes better off living in that carpark for the rest of his life, hes got no potential what so ever

 

[effnic]

dont get matabele started true parra fan that wanka is and dont get me started on the whole sharks team peachey is all u had now he is gone.

 

[lotti]

Monas is almost safe and sound at home him and Joel are on a plane headed for Sydney at the moment but it won't be a warm welcome for Monas from Manly(the fans will give him one) since he's facing that fine.

 

[Raider Ultra]

What for, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[The Colonel]

Manly fines Wilma survivor
By Dean Ritchie
October 27, 2005

HE has just overcome the trauma of being caught in Hurricane Wilma's fury but Manly captain Michael Monaghan returns to Sydney tomorrow to be given an unwanted homecoming gift - a $1000 fine from his club.


Survivor ... Monaghan faces a fine on his return. Dean Marzola

Sea Eagles official are however denying they are being "mean spirited".

Monaghan's treacherous holiday to Mexico - along with brother and Roosters winger Joel - meant he missed the Sea Eagles' end-of-season award night at Manly Leagues Club on October 7.

The club has elected to impose a $1000 suspended fine on Monaghan with Sea Eagles chief executive Patrick Wilson stressing last night the club's player manual states players must attend the annual event.

The club also discussed the fine with the player's manager Jim Banaghan and players' association boss Tony Butterfield before issuing the breach notice.

Monaghan has accepted it was wrong to miss the function.

Two other senior players, one believed to be Shayne Dunley, were also given fines for missing the night.

Monaghan attempted to change flights after discovering he would miss the awards evening but went anyway having already paid a deposit.

Asked was Manly being mean-spirited, given Monaghan feared for his life during the hurricane which ripped through the Mexican resort town of Cancun, Wilson said: "Mean spirited? Look at the facts. He is our incumbent captain and the manual says players must attend the night.

"We had sponsors attending on that night. Players have to appreciate their obligations and responsibilities.
"Michael has apologised. "It's a non-issue."

Wilson said players were told not be away during the last week of September or the first week of October, given there may be a Grand Final appearance and, if so, hectic media commitments.

The fine and ruined holiday cap off a turbulent year for Monaghan, who said yesterday he had accepted the penalty.

"Being captain I'm disappointed I wasn't at the presentation night," Monaghan told 2KY's Big Sports Breakfast yesterday. "It was a mistake in bookings.

"I don't think there'll be any problems. Manly were great through all this.

"They stayed in touch throughout."

Monaghan yesterday left Houston for Los Angeles and should arrive in Sydney tomorrow.

"We only found out the day we arrived in Cancun that there was the chance of a hurricane," he said.

Monaghan said during his final three days in Mexico there was no water or electricity and, over the last two days, no food.

Rumours persist Manly are trying to offload the halfback to an English club.

The Daily Telegraph

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17044310-23214,00.html

 

[CC_Eagle]

$1000 LOL..I'm sure thats a night on the piss for him..Especially after signing the new "updated" contract..

 

[lotti]

Dean should stop listening to rumours Manly are happy with Monas and Monas he's very happy with Manly, when Joey went to England no one even speculated that Newcastle wasn't happy with him.