NRL 2022: New Manly CEO Tony Mestrov to discuss employing dedicated Polynesian welfare officer
Incoming Manly CEO Tony Mestrov arrives at the club after a week of pride jersey drama. He opens up on bringing the group together, the coach and his on-field plans.
Manly will consider the historic step of giving their 19 contracted Polynesian players an official voice at the club after what the Sea Eagles’ new chief executive described as a “dark and gloomy week.”
The Daily Telegraph can reveal incoming CEO Tony Mestrov will meet head coach Des Hasler to discuss employing a dedicated Polynesian welfare officer.
The club has also engaged consultants to discuss how to approach culture sensitivities.
Manly has 19 Polynesian players in its top-30 squad — second only to the Warriors.
The development comes as the club tries to recover from the pride jersey fiasco where seven players stood down in protest for last Thursday’s match against Sydney Roosters on religious grounds.
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“We will discuss and look at putting someone in our welfare department with a Polynesian background,” Mestrov said.
“There needs to be more consultation and collaboration with all of our players, particularly our players of Polynesian background. But obviously I have to talk to Des from a team perspective.
“What it would do is open lines of communication and integrate those players into the team environment.
“We need to understand — 100 per cent — their culture, religious beliefs and background so this is definitely something to consider. There needs to be consultation — something we can improve on in the future.
“And that way we can collaborate much more effectively. It’s as simple as that.
“We are willing to discuss all things around inclusiveness in the future. We also have an inclusive and diverse board.”
Speaking on the first day in his new role, Mestrov revealed:
* He had a coffee with Manly coach Des Hasler at Illie cafe, Narrabeen, on Saturday;
* Will meet with Manly players on Wednesday; and
* Engaged in a handover of power on Monday with chairman Scott Penn and interim CEO Gary Wolman.
THE DRAMA
Mestrov arrives at a club with a divided playing group over the club’s contentious decision to wear a rainbow pride jumper last week.
“I watched from afar — I wasn’t in the job but kind of wished that I was. I tell you, the first thing is the communication between football and the office has to be supreme,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I think the message was mixed. The club wanted to say they were inclusive yet somehow through the process it didn’t work out that way.
“When it comes to social issues, respect and inclusion is something I will represent in conversation more widely with the NRL. Manly should be proud of being an inclusive club and should focus on a safe and inclusive work environment.
“They are two goals that shouldn’t be opposed. We want to be able to consult our players and coaches at every point and we will do that.
“It was a difficult situation and the one way we can put this to bed is a win on Friday night. It’s as simple as that — the club is bigger than everyone. Right?
“From my point of view, the players have said their piece and we move on. My job is to give leadership, stability and support. The most important thing is that they’re protected.
“I thought Des, Cherry (Daly Cherry-Evans) and Scott Penn did a great job, as did the players that played and the seven that didn’t play. That performance on Thursday night (a 20-10 loss) was something we can build a club on. It was tough.”
THE PERSON
Mestrov, 52, is up for the fight as he moves from running Greyhound Racing NSW into a position that has become a revolving door at Manly.
“You know me, I’m upfront and a straight shooter. That’s part of my make-up as a person and has held me in good stead in my business life,” said Mestrov, who played 17 NRL games at Brookvale between 1990 and 1992.
“As a club, we need to be frank and we need to tell each other what we’re thinking — that is part of building a champion team … those honest conversations.
“Those players have had those honest conversations (at a crisis meeting on Sunday) and that will hold us in good stead. That is what we need to be a good team.
“You will get player consultation, from a club point of view, from me. There is no way I’m going to do anything without consulting the people in this club. This is the change I want to bring to the club.
“I am all about the club. It’s about respect, open-mindedness and — the most important thing — is being team oriented. We are all in this together.
“We are one — that’s my job. We’re one club, one Manly. The club is bigger than any individual and my job is to make the club great again. It’s as simple as that. I tell you right now, we have the platform for the future.”
THE MEETING
Mestrov and Hasler worked through a variety of issues over a coffee last weekend.
“I met and had a coffee with Des on Saturday. It was very informal but we are a united front — we played together (at Manly in 1992),” he said.
“Des and I want exactly the same thing — Manly success. I said to Des: ‘You and I have to communicate and be on the same page’ and he agreed with that.
“Everyone knows the expectation. I understand the DNA of the club and Des understands the DNA of the club. Des and I have that in common — we understand the people and we understand what is required. It’s important that he and I have a united front.
“It was a really good conversation. We have the board, the team, the coach, it’s pretty exciting after a dark and gloomy week.
“We both walked away positive about what the future is after a tough week. We talked about what Manly is about.”
THE TEAM
Mestrov will meet with his players on Wednesday to explain his leadership style.
“The first thing (I will say) is that my door is always open. We are going to have open and honest conversations. People that know me know I’m a team player,” he said.
“Although I’ve got to show leadership in this organisation, I am here to support them in a football sense and I’m here to support Des.
“I want to make sure I’m taking the hits and not just the coach but the CEO taking the hits on the chest for them so they can concentrate on success on the field. That’s what I will be saying to them — and it starts Friday, mate (against Parramatta at 4 Pines Park).
“I am willing to discuss any issue with the players moving forward.
“It’s about winning a footy game on Friday night, that’s the most important thing. Friday can’t come quick enough.”
THE FIRST DAY
Mestrov outlined his plans for the club from day one.
“The first thing I’m going to do is a lot of listening. I know that seems boring but I need to firstly give the business some leadership, from an office point of view,” he said. “It’s about giving the office commercial viability and sustainability and a structured process.
“I want to build the business — strong business, strong football team. Scott Penn and Gary Wolman will be in here on day one. We are going through different aspects of the business and we are all on the same age, which is nice.
“The first day has entailed a fair amount of media. People want to know what I think. It’s important to meet all the administration staff. They haven’t had a CEO in here for a while (Stephen Humphreys left in early April).
“We need to work through what is important for this week and then we can start to work in a broader and more strategic focus. I need to get my head around our finances, the salary cap and other things are really important.
“It’s been about business and commercial viability and sustainability. I will get around to the sponsors over the next week or two to find out their requirements and what they need.”
Angry Manly text messages amid boycott drama
Angry Manly players fired off text messages to each other asking why the seven players put the club’s season in danger by boycotting the crunch match with the Sydney Roosters.
The players organised an emergency meeting on Sunday in a desperate bid to mend the player split over the pride jumper fiasco – and to try to keep their finals hopes alive.
News Corp can reveal tensions have been soothed – for now – as the focus turns to Friday night’s blockbuster with Parramatta, when the seven players are due to return from their self-imposed exile.
Aware the internal drama was tearing Manly apart, the deeply religious Josh Aloiai met with Jake Trbojevic, Lachlan Croker and a fourth player for breakfast on Sunday to discuss the issues.
The entire playing group then gathered inside the Centre of Excellence to try to understand the views of each faction.
Several Manly players who played against the Roosters were filthy that the seven players – Aloiai, Tolutau Koula, Haumole Olakau’atu, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley and Christian Tuipulotu – refused to play on religious grounds.
The friction was eased at the meeting with some Sea Eagles later claiming the playing group was now “united” and would push forward this season as “professionals.”
Others, though, say the saga could roll into next season, with the dissenting players already raising concerns over claims they would be open to wearing a pride jersey in future.
Several senior Manly stars were dumbfounded that the seven players took their stance not to play and took their grievances to the club’s coaching staff.
Text messages were sent from players to members of the rebel group, asking them to change their mind and play.
Agents who manage Manly players are uncertain whether a brief meeting can fully heal the wounds given both sides appear unmoving in their beliefs, although chairman and co-owner Scott Penn claims the club would be “cohesive” for the rest of this season.
The club was split into two – but the integration has at least now begun after Sunday’s meeting.
Manly coach Des Hasler is working tirelessly to keep his team unified while Penn held a meeting with the seven players late last week to understand their decision.
Players told club officials to stay away from Sunday’s meeting as they spoke about healing the division ahead of Friday night’s vitally important match against Parramatta at 4 Pines Park.
“I’m certainly aware the playing group is getting together,” Penn told The Sports Breakfast Weekend radio show.
“It’s really important everyone gets together and just talks it through. There needs to be a ‘clear-the-air’ session which is perfectly normal in these circumstances.”
The meeting wasn’t held for players to persuade others to change their views but to find an understanding as to why the seven stars withdrew.
Hasler now has the unenviable task of determining which of the seven players will return this week to Manly side, which will be announced at 4pm on Tuesday.
“There’s not a deep divide which has been reported but I think there is some frustration in terms of the way all this played out,” Penn said.
“I met with six of the seven – Josh (Aloiai) was injured and wasn’t training but I spoke to him a little bit later. They are very determined and they were put in a difficult position but there are absolutely no hard feelings at all. As I discussed with them at the time, their focus now is on Parramatta.
“The seven were very clear in their view and religious beliefs and we totally respected that. They have copped it from certain circles and that is unfortunate because we didn’t ever want to put them in that position.
“We will see a very cohesive team for the next five weeks. It was an emotional week and the circumstances put everyone in a difficult position.”
Asked whether he accepted the decision and views of the seven players, Penn said: “Absolutely. We respect everyone and we totally respect their religious beliefs. From a naming and narrative point of view, we could have called it a Respect Jersey.
“But after (News Corp) article on Monday, it created a narrative we had to deal with that put them in a difficult position. It’s been deemed that management has got this wrong but we were really celebrating everyone in league. That was our intent. It was never about isolating anyone in the community.
“We wanted to have a conversation and make sure we could be as inclusive as we could possibly be. The end execution in terms of how it was portrayed may obviously have created a massive media storm, which was never our intention. It was never intended to divide.”
Penn also addressed speculation about coach Des Hasler’s future.
Hasler had a clause in his contract that requires him to reach the finals this year to trigger an extension. If not, he can be terminated after next season.
“Des has a contract for as long as he wants, really,” Penn said.
“It hasn’t been about putting pressure on or otherwise, the fact is that when Des came back to the club we didn’t … modern day contracts for coaches and players, if you sign a four or five year contract and then you have to have a difficult conversation, it’s a big impose on any club to have to pay out that contract.”
New Manly CEO Tony Mestrov will start in his new position on Monday.
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