Brett Stewart asks board to do what it takes to keep brother Glenn despite salary cap pressure.
Brett Stewart has continued his passionate plea to the Manly Sea Eagles board not to let his brother and star backrower Glenn leave at the end of this season.
Manly are in trouble of losing at least one big name player due to salary cap pressure at the end of the 2014, with Glenn being seen as the most likely player forced out, unless he takes a significant pay-cut to keep playing with his sibling.
Glenn. who’s contract on the northern peninsula is up at the end of this season, could command up to $600,000 a season on the open market, with the Canberra Raiders at least one suitor that would love to land the New South Wales and Australian representative.
However, Brett said he would hate to face the situation of playing against his brother after the combination they have forged at the Sea Eagles and the amount of success they have earned together.
“Obviously I have heard the same rumours as you blokes,’’ Brett said.
“We have had a pretty good careers here so far. Two premierships.
“I would love for him to finish his career here, we both would. We all know the salary cap and what it’s designed to do.
“If the club has their hands tied, like every other player, he will probably shop around.
“But it’s not good to see any player come through the junior ranks leave your club.
“We have seen it happen at a lot of clubs. That’s the way it is at the moment. Maybe it’s something that should be looked at.’’
There are seen to be too many top-line players at the club, mainly Brett, Glenn, Foran, Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough and Daly Cherry-Evans, for all of them to be on the money they deserve without somebody missing out.
Brett said he would like to see exemptions be brought into the NRL in a bid to help clubs, like Manly, keep long-time servants, with 2014 being Glenn’s 12th at the club.
Foran even stated that he would love for Glenn to stay at the club, saying they would lose so much on and off the field if he had to leave for one last big pay-check of his NRL career.
“I think everyone here wants Glenn to stay,’’ Foran said. “I definitely want him to be here. He is great for the club, on the field and off it as well.
“Him and his brother have been a huge part of the success here through the years.
“The club needs to do what they need to do to keep him here. I am sure they will. Everyone knows the importance of having Glenn in the side.’’
Foran said Glenn and Brett were “tight’’.
“They are very tight. They hang out every day, everyone knows that,’’ Foran said.
“I think it would be disappointing to see them separated. They deserve to play out their careers together. I believe they have (earned that right).’’
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