Manly faces reality of salary cap squeeze with Glenn Stewart a likely Sea Eagles departure

MANLY have a battle on their hands to retain star back-rower Glenn Stewart as the club reviews its salary cap position.

MANLY have a battle on their hands to retain superstar back-rower Glenn Stewart as the club moves to review its salary cap position in coming weeks.

An integral part of Manly's success during the past decade, along with his brother Brett, Stewart is off contract at season's end and has been linked to a big-money move to Canberra.

Sea Eagles general manager David Perry will lead a review of the club's playing roster in the lead-up to the 2014 season, but Manly appear increasingly resigned to losing Stewart.News_Rich_Media: Geoff Toovey looks set to be the next NRL coach to sign a contract extension, with Manly's main man saying a new deal is close.

"At this stage, we need to review all of our options," Perry told AAP. "We would love to keep every player at the club. Clearly, the Stewart brothers have been an integral part of our success and we would love to keep them here for the rest of their careers.

"But we have a cap we have to manage and we are going to review that in the next few weeks and determine an outcome and be as transparent as we can when that happens.

TOOVEY SET TO RE-SIGN WITH MANLY

"It would be ideal to have both of them to finish up at Manly, but unfortunately with salary cap pressure and the reality of maintaining and managing that appropriately, you need to review all of that."

Brett, 28, and Glenn, 30, are entering their 11th seasons at Brookvale and could conceivably fall under long-term dispensation in the salary cap.News_Rich_Media: As rugby league is left reeling from yet another player abandonning the code for the riches and international glory of rugby union, we take a look at four players whose departures from the 13-man game have struck great blows in the talent tug-of-war.

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg has flagged a comprehensive review of the salary cap and long-time auditor Ian Schubert has stepped down in a sign there will be sweeping change.

Sydney Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello has been vocal in his support of greater allowances for one-club players.

But whether any of that will keep Glenn Stewart at Brookvale remains to be seen.

"We just wanted to get through the off-season and review our salary cap position and our recruitment strategy, which we are doing in the next couple of weeks," Perry said.

"In that, no doubt we will discuss all players and who is on and off contract.

"We will resolve that in due course."