Nov 26th, 2018

Nov 26th, 2018

BRETT STEWART RETURNS TO MANLY

Des Hasler is set to sign Manly legend Brett Stewart onto his staff is another move to bring the passion and tradition back to the club.

Stewart played his best football under Hasler in the 2000s and is regarded as arguably the club’s greatest ever fullback.

The Sea Eagles’ record tryscorer, Stewart’s role will be to coach the back five - and mainly brilliant young fullback Tom Trbojevic.

Trbojevic is ranked among the game’s best fullbacks and will only get better under Stewart’s guidance.

Hasler is working hard to bring the old traditional values back to Manly.

Former stars Noel Cleal (recruitment), Michael Monagahan (pathways coach) and Matt Ballin (Jersey Flegg coach) are all back on board, as well as respected trainer Don Singe.

Manly great Brett Stewart is back in the Sea Eagles fold. (AAP)

BULLDOGS WANT LICHAA GONE

The Bulldogs are looking to offload specialist hooker Michael Lichaa for next season and gamble on utility Jeremy Marshall-King in the No.9 jumper.

Lichaa has been with the Bulldogs for four seasons after debuting for Cronulla but has never really lived up to his early hype.

The Bulldogs have told him he is free to explore his options and believe Marshall-King - the younger brother of glamour boy Benji Marshall - could be a more viable alternative at hooker.

But it is something of a risk, as Marshall-King has played most of his football in the halves and has only filled in at hooker on occasion in his one season at Belmore.

Michael Lichaa is on the outer at the Bulldogs. (AAP)

CRONULLA TO COP NRL'S WRATH

The NRL’s patience with Cronulla is wearing thin in the wake of the latest salary cap rorting revelations last weekend and I am hearing they are set to come down heavily on the club.

So much so that at least one senior figure within the club faces a life ban if found guilty of fiddling the books.

The Sharks have made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years with the salary cap scandal following the peptides saga that sent shockwaves through the game.

The official concerned was allegedly involved in both incidents and could be hit with the ultimate penalty if found guilty for a second time.

Don't bet on Dylan Walker heading to Wests Tigers. (AAP)

THE DYLAN WALKER RUMOUR DEBUNKED

Here’s the latest on the transfer front, with rumour flying left right and centre.

Hottest rumour doing the rounds is that Dylan Walker is leaving Manly to join the Tigers - but I’m hearing that’s a dud.

Walker is on too much money at Manly for the Tigers to afford him - and he also left Souths a few years back after not seeing eye to eye with incoming Tigers coach Michael Maguire.

Similarly, I don’t think Shaun Johnson to the Raiders will happen next year despite Ricky Stuart expressing some interest in the star halfback.

Johnson is on massive dollars at the Warriors and I am being told he will probably see out his contract next season before a possible move across the ditch in 2020.

With Val Holmes on the move to NFL, Cronulla are chasing a fullback, with Souths’ Alex Johnston their likely target.