Manly declared their NRL premiership the final chapter in a bitter feud between fullback Brett Stewart and league boss David Gallop after Sunday's grand final.
Closure ... We may never know what Glenn Stewart said to David Gallop on the podium. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
Coach
Des Hasler spoke of "closure", Clive Churchill medallist and Brett's brother
Glenn Stewart said things were "back to normal" and the
Sea Eagles returned to the point where the drama all began.
That was after they won the title in 2008, when
Brett Stewart was banned for four weeks by the NRL for abusing alcohol before facing and being cleared of a sexual assault charge.
This year Hasler said his star No.1's soul would not be cleansed until Gallop apologised.
Start of sidebar.
Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar.
Return to start of sidebar.
The fullback and chief executive engaged in an intense conversation during the presentation
at ANZ Stadium, as did Glenn Stewart and Gallop when the outstanding Sea Eagles lock received the award for best on the ground.
"That was nothing, just moving on," Glenn Stewart said. "It was nothing at all."
While Brett would not speak after the victory, Glenn Stewart seemed to indicate the hatchet may have been buried.
"It's very special, probably the final chapter and everything's back to where it was and moving on and normal life's good and footy's going well so I can't complain," he said.
Hasler was philosophical when asked about Brett Stewart's return to the top.
"With the couple of years he's had, with the injuries and the interruptions in his life, to bounce back and to come back and be part of a side that wins a grand final means he has really come full circle and surely you can't begrudge him that."
Glenn Stewart returned from the battle of Brookvale to lead Manly to a win in the war for the premiership, starring in the four-tries-to-two win.
Banned for three games after the infamous brawl with Melbourne players a month ago, Stewart needed his team-mates to get him through the finals series and repaid them with a try, superb plays for two more four-pointers and an all-round performance that is likely to have him named in the Kangaroos squad on Monday.
Whenever a big play was needed, the nuggety Manly lock stepped up, none moreso than when he surprised the Warriors with a grubber inside his own half that eventually led to a Daly Cherry-Evans try.
"I don't know if it was a bit of a brain snap or what, but if it bounces the other way I might have been in hot water with Dessie," Stewart said modestly when asked about his first half grubber.
"... (My try) was just the right place, right time ... I was just hanging around for the scraps and it paid off."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...nd-final-victory/story-e6frf3ou-1226156446679
