Northern Eagles Finished !

[Willow]

Tuesday 6 August 2001:
The Northern Eagles board met last night and voted to officially end the joint venture at the end of this season.
Manly will take over the NRL franchise effectively ending North Sydney's 94 year involvement in Rugby League.

 

[legend]

That means all the players are free agents and everyone can start from scratch. Should be interesting to see who comes in and picks up the scraps and some players such as Kimmorley may not get 450k per year with another club. In fact, I guarantee he wont. He mayget 300-350k tops.

 

[bender]

The worrying thing about this is that Manly will take over the licence but will presumably lose about 3or 4 players to other clubs. That means that they will be also rans next year and their support will drop even further.

Next years comp looks like it could be very lopsided, with the bottom 6 or 7 clubs all a level below the top 9. This means that under this ridiculous top 8 system, like the Broncos have for the last 3 or 4 years, there will be another 7 clubs who are virtually guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals regardless of their form. This cannot help crowds.

The only possible good thing I can see coming from this would be if North Queensland picked up a couple of classy players and developed into a force next year.

 

[Johnsy]

I think it smells of a snow job. I am sure the Manly Warringah club had a small idea of where they were financially and where they were going. Its hard to imagine that the clause would be written in saying that the license would revert back to manly if the club became defunct. At least i can hate them as manly again.

Johnsy

 

[imported_Beast]

Willow.
Do not be too premature with your 'death notice" with the Bears.
They have a far more compelling legal case than Souths, they have regained the support of the Leagues Club, they have the leasing rights to Gosford for over 20 years. Anyone who plays at Gosford pays the Bears, and pays them big dollars. I assume we will let the rahs rahs play some matches there, they seem to have big budget, there is no guarantee that Manly will even be allowed to walk onto Gosford, let them play at Brookie in front of 8-9 thousand and see how long they last.
Norths have an opportunity to fight in the open now and I welcome that

 

[legend]

So do I Beast. I think Manly have been very underhanded and when I saw Vautins mug on the tv smiling away while driving off in his calais I wanted to job him. The type pf people associated with the Manly club are for the most part, scumbags and deceitful and dishonest crooks. I still don't think they have show their hand to Singo with regards to their funding. They asked for one week and could not substantiate their funding and asked for an extension and still the info is not forthcoming. Bloody liars.

 

[legend]

The question I have is will Norths make it back in time for next years comp if successful? Will they still have a first division side? What will all the players do. Surely some Norths players will not sign with Manly on principle. Kimmorley is contracted to Norths so it will be interesting. I can see players like Andrew King, Albert Torrens, Steve Menzies and Ben Walker all staying with Manly. What will the rest do?

 

[Willow]

Beast:
It's not my 'death notice'. I'm just posting a condensed version of what's been released to the press.
I'd say it's Manly'spress release that made today's news....
...and we know how far we can trust them...
IMO, Norths should be in the 16 team comp as a stand alone club and I think that is now a real possibility.
The whole Northern Eagles thing has been a stinking and messy affair from go to woe.
Hope this clarifies my personal opinion on the issue.

 

[imported_Beast]

Willow,
Thanks for that, my apologies, I am little trigger happy over the whole issue at the moment.
Legend.
I would love to have them back for 2002, but we must be realistic, News/NRL have done this whole thing in such a fashion that the Bears will not have time to put their management structure in place, get a credible coach and recruit first graders, the time for 2002 might just not be there.
I would rather they either fight the bastards from News/NRL all of next year, find a good football manger, Boustead would be great, ex Bears and very good administrator from all accounts, then find a good coach, preferrably a premiership winning coach, and then start to approach players from Oz and in UK, combine that with the many Norths and Central Coast juniors it is a promising outfit, especially in the long term.
As Norths are not part of of the News/NRL structure at the moment they cannot breach any anti tampering laws. They will have much dough, so we will wait and see what happens

 

[Bomber]

Here's what I predict

Kimmorley moves back to Melbourne, abliet on a much reduced salary. He reluctantly signs with the Storm after the Sharks and Roosters refuse to offer him top dollar. A few English clubs also make big moves, notably Wigan, but to no avail.

A disenchanted Melbourne Player of the Year Matt Orford moves to Souths, his third club in three years.

All of the Manly 'old guard' (Menzies, Torren etc) go back to the Sea Eagles. Peter Sharp is sacked mid-season after losing their first fourteen games (including a 66-0 result in Townsville). Geoff Toovey becomes interim coach, but can't do much better. Towards the end of the season, it is revealed that Manly can't pay their players and ask News to bail them out.

Souths snaffle up a few old Northsplayers - watch for Mark O'Meley to don the red and green. Roosters and Panthers also throw a gun over the Bears.

Norths and Singleton take the NRL to court, on the grounds that they are being unfairly excluded from the national premiership. News settle out of court, granting the Bears inclusion in 2003.

In the meanwhile, NorthPower Stadium is rented out to other NRL clubs who wish to make a quick buck. Souths play a few games there next season, against Newcastle and Manly, in front of healthy crowds.

Parramatta suffers from a premiership hangover.

Geez, can I think of anything else?

 

[imported_Beast]

I like the sound of that, I'll be praying for it!

 

[legend]

Apart from the last bit, I think bomber is pretty spot on. I expect to see the bears back in the elite competition in 2003.

 

[imported_Bigbopper]

Beast,

Good luck, we are all with you.

I wouldn't even go to watch Manly play Souths - their behaviour is just plain outrageous. I really feel for their fans but I hope they go bankrupt.

Cheers

Bigbopper

 

[TheSaint]

I thought I'd all ready witnessed the death of Manly. Hopefully the next time will be a little more pemanent. They weren't the most hated team for nothing. Low life scum!

 

[legend]

In todays paper, it states that Manly would like to keep Menzies, King, Torrens, Walker and a few others. You see, I am a genius as I stated this in an earlier post. I doubt they will get Kimmorley and O'Meley. Canberra now have a chance to make amends a pick up a couple of outside backs. I wouldnt mind Robert Miles. he's pretty quick. My hope id for the NRL to knock back Manlys business plan and let the bears back in. Shove off Manly.

 

[Willow]

Beast.
No need to apologise mate. I fully understand. The source of statement wasn't fully qualified.
I just hope that we do see Norths back and their history will show a minor glitch in 2000 and 2001 where it will state '...briefly known as the Northern Eagles...'
What a disaster it will be for Rugby League in Sydney if Manly are the only team between The Bridge and Gosford.
Anyway mate, it's great to have your input here. If you can, keep us posted on anything about the Bears.

 

[Edwahu]

According to the Canberra timesthe Raiderswill be chasing Torrens, Reeves and Omeley with Torrens their main interest. I would certainly be happy with the first two signings but Omeley would be a waste of cash.