The owner of the team has granted the legendary Sea Eagels player, who had been retired, permission to rejoin the team.
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, who have won two premierships and one club championship between them, are requesting medical retirement clearances from the NRL for Brett Stewart and Steve Matai.
In order to provide the players with a dignified and respectful send-off for their outstanding careers, the Sea Eagles are collaborating closely with the NRL, the RLPA, and the respective managers of Stewart and Matai, George Mimis and Gavin Orr.
Due to surgery at the end of 2016 and the inability to obtain medical clearance to train, both players have not been able to prepare for the 2017 NRL season.
Manly Sea Eagles and the players’ management are collaborating to ensure that the players receive the proper send-off in front of their thousands of devoted supporters at Lottoland.
The Sea Eagles have announced that they are requesting medical retirement clearances from the NRL, meaning that manly veterans Steve Matai and Brett Stewart are about to call it quits.
The Sea Eagles also revealed that because of individual injuries that have dogged their previous seasons, neither player was able to take part in the preseason.
Stewart has struggled for a long time with knee problems, and Matai has had neck pain in the past.
It is acknowledged that both players’ salaries would be excluded from this season’s salary cap should the Sea Eagles obtain their medical clearances.
As of this season’s end, Stewart and Matai were both under contract.
“The Sea Eagles are collaborating closely with the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), the NRL, and the players’ respective managers, Gavin Orr (Matai) and George Mimis (Stewart), to provide the players with a courteous and dignified send-off following their outstanding careers,” the Sea Eagles said in a statement.
Due to surgery at the end of 2016 and the inability to obtain medical clearance to train, neither player has been able to prepare for the 2017 NRL season.
“Manly Sea Eagles are working with the management of both players to give them the farewell they deserve in front of their thousands of adoring fans.”
In 462 games as one-club players, Stewart and Matai have scored a combined 254 tries. They were members of Manly’s premiership teams in 2008 and 2011.
Since round, Matai has not competed for Manly.nine the previous season, and Stewart’s knee injury kept him out of the last ten weeks of the 2016 campaign.
