Sea Eagles admit Steve Matai and Brett Stewart not certain to play next season

SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett has confirmed there are doubts about the playing futures of club stalwarts Brett Stewart and Steve Matai.

Sea Eagles stalwarts Steve Matai and Jamie Lyon. Picture: Brett Costello

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AS the Sea Eagles prepare for life without skipper Jamie Lyon, coach Trent Barrett has confirmed there are doubts about the playing futures of fellow club stalwarts Brett Stewart and Steve Matai.

The two great servants of the club have undergone surgery which has ended their 2016 campaign prematurely and they are currently in rehab.

“Snake (Stewart) has had some setbacks with his knee and Steve Matai has had pretty major surgery on his neck,” said coach Trent Barrett.

“I don’t think we are 100 per cent confident that they will recover.

“We certainly have our fingers crossed that they do because they are very important parts of our team.”

Brett Stewart is recovering from knee surgery Picture Gary Ramage

Barrett said the club has to monitor how they are going and try and get them back to peak fitness.

“We’d hate to lose more senior players at this stage, losing our captain is going to be tough enough so hopefully they can get through,” Barrett said.

The situation does create some uncertainty, especially if in the worst case they need to be replaced.

Barrett said the club can work around a few different scenarios.

“They will both do everything they can to try to get their injuries right,” he said.

“It has been a frustrating year for the both of them.”