Why former Sea Eagles stars snubbed Manly’s 10-year premiership reunion
IT was supposed to be a reunion for the Manly Sea Eagles players involved in the greatest grand final victory of the modern era. Yet only half the team turned up and the coach wasn’t there.
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IT was supposed to be a reunion for the Manly Sea Eagles players involved in the greatest grand final victory of the modern era.
When Manly thumped Melbourne Storm 40-0 at ANZ Stadium in 2008, it was a triumph built on mateship and magnificent skill.
Yet when the players gathered to mark the 10-year anniversary at Brookvale Oval on Saturday, only seven turned up and there was no sign of coach Des Hasler.
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Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and skipper Matty Orford weren’t there. Three-try hero Michael Robertson, Jason King, Josh Perry, Brett Stewart and David Williams couldn’t make it either.
Orford has battled health issues for some time while Williams and Robertson are overseas.
No official reason was given for the absence of the others.
Mark Bryant, who played off the bench in the grand final, was in charge of organising the reunion.
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“Some didn’t leave the club in the best way but I don’t want this to be about bitterness,” Bryant said.
“For some of the boys, it was really unfortunate how they finished up. That was the fault of the club in a lot of instances. I just want to make sure the best I can that the boys stay in touch. On the field, we achieved something very special.
“No one let their mates down.
“Age catches up with you pretty quickly but we’ve got to stay in touch and catch up for a beer whenever we can.”
The reunion was always planned to coincide with the match against their old grand final opponents at Brookvale.
Despite not attending the game-day reunion, the fact Brett Stewart went to the trouble of flying in from Melbourne for a dinner on Friday was a promising sign that he is getting his life back together after some difficult years.