Lol at this thread. Sam is 30... Should have another four good years in him easy if it wasn't for this injury.
Souths would also prefer to have him fit, in the team and firing. Even if we get cap dispensation for this year, there's nobody in the same league as him available for 2020, only 2021 and of course, we have to throw big overs at them to pry them away from whoever they play for now. So basically, we're already down on ability from 2019 to 2020 before a ball has even been kicked.
On top of this, we've lost Inglis and Sutton this year as well... Our three most experienced and arguably also most influential players, all gone in the space of 12 months.
Have a look at our squad now... Bennett will be scratching his head as to who to name as captain. Cam Murray is a year or two off that sort of thing and there's basically no one else with the right credentials.
Sam at 60 - 70% would've been in this team and captain next year so the fact that the club has let him retire just goes to show that he has nothing left.
Not sure how people look at these circumstances and decide that we are trying to somehow rort the system. He was the best player in our team.
Speaking for myself, and I think most of the responses in this thread, no one is disputing anything you have said in this post, its about the NRL consistently applying the rules. To help you see the point let me paraphrase your words....
"
Brett Stewart is 30... Should have another four good years in him easy if it wasn't for this injury.
Manly would also prefer to have him fit, in the team and firing. Even if we get cap dispensation for this year, there's nobody in the same league as him available for 2017, only 2018 and of course, we have to throw big overs at them to pry them away from whoever they play for now. So basically, we're already down on ability from 2017 to 2018 before a ball has even been kicked.
On top of this, we've lost
Jamie Lyon and Glen Stewart this year as well... Our three most experienced and arguably also most influential players, all gone in the space of 12 months.
Have a look at our squad now...
Trent will be scratching his head as to who to name as captain.
DCE is a year or two off that sort of thing and there's basically no one else with the right credentials.
Brett Stewart at 60 - 70% would've been in this team and captain next year so the fact that the club has let him retire just goes to show that he has nothing left."
Making more sense now?
