Manly face a difficult balancing act squeezing David Williams and Brett Stewart under the salary cap By James Hooper
The Sunday Telegraph May 08, 2011
After four weeks of false starts, Brett Stewart is on target to make his long-awaited return for Manly against Canberra in Monday Night Football at Brookvale.
And former World Cup winger David 'Wolfman' Williams made his return from injury in front of a handful of fans in the NSW Cup at North Sydney Oval yesterday.
But the star fullback also represents a dilemma for the Sea Eagles, with the club's backline stocks overflowing with talent.
Stewart, William Hopoate, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Kieran Foran, Michael Robertson, Michael Oldfield, Daly Cherry-Evans, David Williams and Tony Williams can't all be accommodated in the same backline.
The rise of off-contract teenager Hopoate has allowed Manly to take a cautious approach with Stewart.
When you factor in that Stewart and Williams take up approximately $700,000 of the Sea Eagles' salary cap, it's a delicate balancing act for coach Des Hasler.
But the fact remains that since the 2008 grand final, Stewart has played just nine first-grade games - five in 2009, one in 2010 and three this season.
Signed on a marquee contract of $450,000 a season until the end of next year, the Eagles are desperate to get Stewart's recovery perfect.
For the past month, he has had to battle hamstring twinges, tears and strains in both legs as his body re-adjusts to the rigours of playing NRL.
There have been rumours of complications and possibly career-ending problems, but coach Des Hasler is adamant there is no substance to the talk.
Hasler has named Stewart as his starting fullback for the past four weeks before pulling him out due to persistent hamstring problems.
Manly are desperate to get Hopoate and Stewart into the same backline with Lyon, Matai, Foran and Cherry-Evans. Sea Eagles recruitment manager and Manly legend Noel Cleal has backed Stewart to quickly re-establish himself as one of the code's premier fullbacks.
"He's missed so much footy but he's shown tremendous resolve, he's never wavered from his recovery," Cleal said.
"He's the ultimate pro in that regard. His enthusiasm and his want has never diminished, it's been as strong as ever.
"You have got to admire him. He has been to hell and back and for him to maintain that drive is truly inspirational."
What about the problem of how best to accommodate everyone into the Sea Eagles' backline?
"It's a nice problem Dessie has - and I'm glad it's Dessie's problem, not mine," Cleal said. "It'll sort itself out in time."
Stewart must undergo a final fitness test when the Sea Eagles have their last training run today.
Hasler said he expected him to take the field against the Raiders tomorrow and continue the long road back.
After almost three years straight on the sidelines, Sydney Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello showed it can be done.
Provided Stewart does make a complete recovery, the Sea Eagles have a balancing act on their hands.
Someone will have to be cut from the backline.
SOURCE: SUNDAY TELEGRAPH