Ricky Stuart slams agent amid $2.1m Jamal Fogarty blow
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has broken his silence on Jamal Fogarty’s potential exit by taking a swipe at the playmaker’s agent for failing to turn up to a scheduled meeting.
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Ricky Stuart has revealed the moment he feared Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty was headed to the Sea Eagles.
The Canberra coach has broken his silence on the battle to retain Fogarty by taking a swipe at the playmaker’s agent for failing to turn-up to a scheduled meeting.
Fogarty, 31, is believed to be on the verge of signing a three-year deal worth $2.1 million with Manly.
Only an eleventh-hour collapse in negotiations will prevent Fogarty agreeing to terms on a $700,000-a-season move to Manly until the end of 2028.
Canberra have tabled Fogarty a two-year deal, resisting going to a third-year, cognisant of not wanting to block the progression of talented young halves Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange.
“I really hope the offer of $700,000 over three years is real,’’ Stuart said.
“As I’ve said all along, Jamal has to look after his family.
“Three years of $700,000 is a great deal.
“Everybody knows we wanted to keep Jamal, but it’s an offer we can’t match.’’
Stuart then revealed how, with almost 25-years of experience in player negotiations as a head coach, he felt the Raiders were long odds to retain Fogarty.
“We pretty much got a feeling over last weekend on the Gold Coast, where his manager (Tas Bartlett) lives, when he pulled out of a scheduled meeting because he had a cold,’’ Stuart said,
“It must have cleared up pretty quickly because we saw him bouncing around at the football the following day.
“Again, I hope the offer from Manly is correct, but I’m not certain it is real because Jamal hasn’t spoken to me about it.’’
As revealed by this masthead, Manly’s poaching raid is expected to be completed over the next 48 hours, possibly before Fogarty runs out for the Raiders in Sunday’s clash against the Dolphins in Canb
Originally published as Ricky Stuart slams agent amid $2.1m Jamal Fogarty blow
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