Chooks to reward Robbo with pay day

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AWARE of vultures that circle a Grand Final-winning coach, Sydney Roosters will hold a strategic board meeting this month to kick-start negotiations about re-signing Trent Robinson long-term.

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The Daily Telegraph has been told Robinson, who has become an elite coach almost overnight, could now command up to $600,000 a season on the open market.

Sydney Roosters chief operating officer, football, Brian Canavan, wants Robinson for the "long run, not the short run."

And Robinson told The Daily Telegraph on Monday: "I would love to be here as long as possible."

Robinson, a first-year coach who arrived from Catalans, re-wrote history with his side's stunning 26-18 win over Manly in Sunday's Grand Final.

He is under contract for another two years but the Roosters want to discuss a long-term extension.

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There is little doubt that struggling cashed-up clubs will attempt to entice Robinson out of Bondi.

Losing Sonny Bill Williams might be bad enough - the club cannot afford to watch Robinson leave after 2015.

"There's been no discussion at this stage - that's the truth," said Canavan.

"But we want him here for the long run, not the short run.

"He has done exceedingly well and has put a great structure in place.

"Trent and the coaching staff have gelled astounding well."

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Pushed on whether the club wanted Robinson long-term, Canavan said: "Most definitely. He is a quality coach and a quality person."

The last coach to win a premiership in his first year at the Roosters was Ricky Stuart back in 2002.

Roosters management gambled on a rookie coach - and it paid handsome dividends.

"The Roosters is my number one place to coach," Robinson said. "It was my first club out of school and I was an assistant here in 2010 (when the club reached a Grand Final).

"I have also lived in the area my whole adult life. I would love to be here as long as possible."

Asked had he spoken with the club about his future, Robinson said: "Not at all, I haven't spoken to them.

"When I came here I was focused on doing my best and what we did this year was amazing."

Roosters players spoke openly about Robinson's influence this season at Bondi.

"He is up there with the best I have ever been coached by," said Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello.

Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves added: "He is big on getting the team together."

Robinson also helped his club win the club championships and NRL minor premiership.

"It is a remarkable achievement," Canavan said.  

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A whole new ball game for A-League

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FOOTBALL is coming home. More than the crowds and the standard of play that have been the eternal talking points, it will be the success of the A-league's first free-to-air television deal with SBS that provides the best measure of progress.

This will be the season when those who claimed the A-League's growth had been handicapped by an exclusive pay television deal with Fox Sports is put to the test. And when, as the result of the dual broadcasting arrangement, the league's exposure is multiplied.

From the days when it was known by the heathens as 'Soccer Bloody Soccer', SBS has a long and rich association with Australian football. Les Murray and the late Johnny Warren were the ''world game's'' godfather's - with the dark suits, but without the violin cases.

However, when SBS won the free-to-air rights last season, there was some concern among FFA insiders that the venerable football network sometimes loved the game to death. The consequence of an approach that was seen to cater heavily for purists, rather than the new audience the A-league is trying to attract.

The perception was – rightly or wrongly – that if you didn't know your libido from your libero, SBS wasn't going to waste its time giving you directions from the bedroom to the pitch.

At the same time, Fox Sports had set the bar high in recent years. Its analysts and commentators provided depth, insight but also – cue Mark Bosnich's manic cackle – a lighter, more inclusive touch.

SBS's response is a coverage that leans heavily on younger, recently retired players. David Zdrilic will host the Friday night coverage with the entertainingly intense Craig Foster. They will be joined by a rotating panel of experts including Jason Culina, Clint Bolton and Ned Zelic.

The game itself is a joint production between Fox Sports and SBS, with David Basheer commentating and Robbie Slater providing analysis. Expect Slater to say ''Well, Simon...ummm, I mean David'' at least 13 times until the new alliance is forged.
 

NEW STYLES FOR CARLE AND HERSI

But, beyond the games themselves, what the FFA wanted – and has gotten – is broader programming across the week. The type of coverage that showcases the players, engages fans and tempts them to buy a ticket.

Fox Sports have made the signing of the A-League season, poaching entertainers Santo Cilauro, Sam Pang and Ed Kavalee whose World Cup program on SBS was a cult classic. They will reform for 'Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football' on Monday night which, if there previous efforts are anything to go, will be instant classics.

SBS will have their of footbotainment show, 'Thursday FC' hosted by comedian Matt Okine, Lucy Zelic (yes, Ned Zelic is her brother) and David Zdrilic. They will be using a host of current players as both comic muses, and sources of insight.

Which proves, in Australian sport, the only thing worse than being laughed at is not being laughed at. And also that the FFA was right when it predicted splitting the broadcast rights would create competition and produce broader and enhanced coverage.

What it cannot determine is if the appetite for A-League games, and other programming, is a strong as last year's encouraging season suggested. Do packed crowds at Wanderers and Melbourne Victory games translate into ratings that will encourage growth in future rights deals?

PREMIER STATE ROLLS ON

For all the talk of strong growth, the average audience for games on Fox Sports last season was 81,000 viewers. Strong in pay-per-view terms, but not figures to have the eyes of free-to-air executives popping.

However, the grand final between Central Coast and the Wanderers drew an A-league record 308,000 viewers and 164,000 watched Alessandro Del Piero's first home game for Sydney FC against Newcastle.

That is the league's potential. The televisual banquet has been laid. Now we wait to see if more viewers come to the table.

ON THE BOX
THURSDAY
THURSDAY FC, 8.30pm, SBS 2
SBS's panel show showcases the A-League with special guests, interviews and live music acts, presented by Matt Okine, Lucy Zelic and David Zdrilic.
FRIDAY
KICK OFF 6.30pm Fox Sports
Tara Rushton and Andy Harper's weekly preview of the upcoming round and football news from the Premier League.
A-LEAGUE LIVE, 7pm, SBS2 & Fox Sports
SBS and Fox Sports's live coverage of the Friday night match.
SATURDAY
MATCHDAY SATURDAY: 5pm Fox Sports
Mark Bosnich, Mark Rudan and Adam Peacock bring football fans up to 10 hours of LIVE coverage of the A-League and English Premier League each Saturday.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY SHOOT OUT 7pm Fox Sports
Wrap up the A-League action Mark
Bosnich and Adam Peacock and don't miss the B-League with Sam Mac and Julian Schiller, the best thing to happen to TV sport since Kerry Packer and World Series Cricket.
MONDAY
TOTAL FOOTBALL 7.30pm Fox Sports
A new panel show hosted by Santo Cilauro, alongside Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang.
A-LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS SHOW 8pm Fox Sports, 8.40pm SBS
Recap all the best moments from the weekend.

The A-League kick-off is just days away. Picture: Gregg Porteous

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Price's last ditch bid for Eels job

Parramatta legend Ray Price is keen to coach the Eels. Source: Gregg Porteous / DailyTelegraph

PARRAMATTA'S search for a new coach took an eleventh hour twist on Grand Final day, with Ray Price interviewed for the position that he wants to share with fellow club great Brett Kenny.

A passionate and vocal campaigner, Price fronted a four-man delegation of the Eels board at Parramatta Leagues Club on Sunday.

The premiership-winning warhorse on Monday night said the club needed people in charge who understood Parramatta's culture.

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He wants to take charge with Kenny, who coached the club's NSW Cup feeder side Wentworthville several years ago.

"We need Parramatta people to get Parramatta out of the crap," Price said.

"I sat down with the board for about 90 minutes and they agreed with everything I said.

"It took me a long time to speak to the board, but I kept ringing and ringing and ringing for the opportunity.

"I genuinely believed we had a top eight side this year - we just needed to back our players."

Despite getting the chance to put his case forward, Price is not confident he'll get the job.

Manly assistant Brad Arthur remains the raging hot favourite ahead of Tim Sheens, Steve McNamara and Jason Taylor.

The fact Sheens won't return from Australia's World Cup campaign until December damages his chances, while the current playing squad is backing Arthur - their assistant coach in 2011 and 2012 - to get the job.

The announcement will be made later this week, following a board meeting on Monday night.

"I'm probably a million to one to get the job, even though I've always put my hand up to help them make a difference," Price said.

"I wanted to help with their defence this year, but they were happy with their defence. How can that be?"  

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Thompson, Wells share Syd

Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells in full flight against Essendon. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Colleen Petch / HeraldSun

SCOTT Thompson and Daniel Wells were joint winners of North Melbourne's best and fairest award after a thrilling vote count last night.

All-Australian full-back Thompson and Wells tied on 50 votes, finishing one ahead of ruckman Todd Goldstein.

But leading goalkicker Lindsay Thomas, who missed out on All-Australian small forward selection, did not finish in the top-10 of voting.

Thompson, 27, has twice finished second in the award, but was last night rewarded for his supreme consistency helping curb the league's premier forwards.

The man who was originally overlooked in the draft and forced to start his career in the VFL also took out the best clubman award, as determined by the Roos' coaches.

Wells is now a two-time Syd Barker medallist, helping complete a stellar comeback from a life-threatening blood clot found in his lungs in late 2011.

Despite heavy tagging from the opposition, Wells' sparkling form has repaid the club's faith after selecting the silken midfielder with pick No.2 in the 2002 national draft.

Vice-captain Drew Petrie was fourth on 46 votes, while young midfielders Ben Cunnington and Ryan Bastinac capped off the best year of their careers, finishing fifth and sixth.

Earlier in the night Wells and Michael Firrito were awarded life memberships.

Former rookie defender Aaron Mullett was named best first year player, while Thomas was recognised for his work off the field as the Peter Scanlon Community Award winner.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott revealed goalsneak Thomas and emerging midfielder Ben Cunnington had re-signed with the club until the end of 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sydney assistant coach Leigh Tudor has agreed to join North Melbourne as a senior assistant coach next year, if he is unsuccessful in Essendon's coaching race.

Highly regarded for his stoppage work and team defence, Tudor has told the Roos he will be at Scott's side unless he wins a senior coaching job in the next fortnight. He is a frontrunner to fill James Hird's void.

Scott announced the appointment last night. Tudor had played key coaching roles at Sydney and St Kilda and coached Geelong's VFL team to a premiership.

North Melbourne star Daniel Wells kicked four goals in the Kangaroos hard-fought win over Geelong. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: HeraldSun

SYD BARKER TOP 10

1. Scott Thompson 50
1. Daniel Wells 50
3. Todd Goldstein 49
4. Drew Petrie 46
5. Ben Cunnington 45*
6. Ryan Bastinac 45*
7. Jack Ziebell 43
8. Lachie Hansen 41*
9. Sam Gibson 41*
10. Aaron Mullett 40
(* countback applicable for all placings other than first)

OTHER AWARDS
Glenn Archer Northerners Award – Jack Ziebell
Blackwoods Supporters Player of the Year Award – Jack Ziebell
Jason McCartney Jumper Award – Jack Ziebell
Best First Year Player – Aaron Mullett
Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award – Scott Thompson
Peter Scanlon Community Award – Lindsay Thomas

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Super Rugby draw: Five of the best

Kurtley Beale is back for the Waratahs in 2014. Picture: Mark Evans

THE draw for the 2014 Super Rugby season is out - so where and when will Benji Marshall, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper and co kick-off their campaigns?

The opening round of the competition - which kicks off on February 15 - is an all-South African affair, with the Cheetahs and Lions opening the new campaign with a clash in Bloemfontein, followed by the Sharks hosting the Bulls (the Stormers start with a bye).

The New Zealand and Australian franchises join in the action the following week, from February 21, with each team playing 16 regular season matches (eight home and eight away, plus 2 byes) before the playoffs begin on July 18. The final will be held on Saturday, August 2.

We take a look at five must-watch matches for the 2014 Super Rugby season.

Crusaders v Chiefs, February 21, AMI Stadium

It might be asking a bit much given it's but we like to think these two sides will be able to replicate their performances from the last time they clashed. That occasion turned out to be the best game of 2013, with the Aaron Cruden-inspired Chiefs edging the Crusaders in an epic semi-final at Waikato Stadium. Adding more spice to this match is the potential return of Sonny Bill Williams to the Chiefs line-up. The dual code star is yet to announce where - and what - he'll be playing next year but Waikato remains a firm possibility. There'll be no Dan Carter for the Crusaders, with the All Blacks superstar set to take a sabbatical that will rule him out of most of the 2014.

Highlanders v Blues, February 22, Forsyth Barr Stadium

Will it be Benji Marshall's rugby union debut? The former Wests Tigers NRL star is poised to kick off his career in the 15-man game in Dunedin - providing he does enough in the pre-season to win selection in the Blues line-up for their opening clash of 2014. Selection in the No.10 jersey would likely see him face off with the Highlanders' 11-Test All Blacks flyhalf Colin Slade. Marshall won't be the only new face in the Blues side, with former All Black Jerome Kaino returning to Auckland after a stint in Japan.

NSW Waratahs v Western Force, February 23, Allianz Stadium

The opening round for the Australian Super Rugby franchises could pit great mates Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor up against each other as the Waratahs host the Force on a Sunday afternoon. That's providing O'Connor ends up signing with the Perth-based club, following the Australian Rugby Union's decision to release the bad boy from his 2013 contract, and not offer him a new one for 2014. Regardless, Beale has returned to NSW from Melbourne and will roll out for the side he started his Super Rugby career with alongside new recruits Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), Jono Lance (Reds) and Nick Phipps (Rebels) as coach Michael Cheika looks to build on the platform laid in 2013.

Queensland Reds v Cheetahs, March 7, Suncorp Stadium

Richard Graham kicks off his career as Queensland Reds coach on the road, with clashes away to the Brumbies and Waratahs in the first two rounds. It's not until Queensland's third game that he'll coach his new side on home soil and this looms as a tough test for the former Western Force boss. South Africa's Cheetahs were the surprise packet of 2013, storming into the playoffs and coming within a sideline conversion of pushing eventual runners-up the Brumbies to extra-time in the opening round of the finals. Attacking ace Willie le Roux has become a star for the Springboks and will lock horns with the Reds' new recruit, former Waratahs and Wallabies winger Lachie Turner in a battle of the speedsters.

Brumbies v Chiefs, April 25, Canberra Stadium

The rematch of this year's Super Rugby final, won by the Chiefs as they successfully defended their 2012 crown. Sonny Bill Williams wouldn't be the only newcomer to this rematch, with one-time Wallaby skipper David Pocock set to be back in action for the Canberra outfit in 2014 after missing most of this year with a serious knee injury. The Brumbies will also have a new face calling the shots on the sidelines, after former World Cup-winning coach Jake White walked out on the club to chase a Test gig. Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher are vying for the vacant position.

Opponents for Australia's Super Rugby franchises - each team plays home and away derbies within their own conference, plus the following matches:

Brumbies: Hurricanes (A), Stormers (H), Blues (H), Chiefs (H), Crusaders (A), Sharks (H), Cheetahs (A), Bulls (A)
Force: Highlanders (A), Chiefs (H), Bulls (H), Cheetahs (A), Stormers (A), Lions (H), Crusaders (A), Blues (H)
Rebels: Cheetahs (H), Crusaders (H), Highlanders (A), Chiefs (A), Sharks (H), Hurricanes (H), Lions (A), Bulls (A)
Reds: Cheetahs (H), Sharks (A), Lions (A), Stormers (H), Hurricanes (A), Blues (A), Crusaders (H), Highlanders (H)
Waratahs: Sharks (A), Stormers (A), Bulls (H), Blues (A), Hurricanes (H), Lions (H), Chiefs (A), Highlanders (H)

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Foran backs Cherry-Evans for Dally M

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They are now rated the NRL's best halves combination - and Kieran Foran is backing his Manly scrumbase partner Daly Cherry-Evans to kick off grand final week celebrations by being crowned Dally M Medal winner for 2013.

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Cherry-Evans will take time out of his preparations for Sunday night's season decider for a gala night at The Star to see who wins rugby league's most prestigious individual award.

The Sea Eagles halfback is on a star-studded list of contenders that also includes Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Jarrod Mullen, John Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Robbie Farah and Todd Carney.

Thurston and Inglis are the favourites for the top prize, but Foran reckons no player in the NRL finished the season stronger than Cherry-Evans.

"I think he will win, I honestly do," Foran told The Daily Telegraph.

"I have said to a few people over the last few days, I think he is a massive smokie for it.

"He was up there at the beginning and I don't think another player would have finished with as many votes as he did."

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When voting went private after 16 rounds Cronk was leading on 16 points, one point ahead of Inglis, Sutton and Mullen who were all on 15. Josh Reynolds was on 14, just ahead of Cherry-Evans, Thurston and Robbie Farah all on 13, and Carney on 12.

Cherry-Evans wasn't getting his hopes up on Monday but says it would be a dream come true to be crowned the game's best player for 2013.

"I have got no doubt in my mind it is going to be one of the closest Dally M counts we have seen in a while," Cherry-Evans said.

"I am backing Queensland to win it through either Inglis, Cronk or Thurston.

"I'm the dark horse.

"I'm not expected to win it and I'm not expecting to win it.

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"But if I can walk out of there with the Dally M around my neck I'd be one of the proudest people on earth."

Foran is predicting this could be just the start of a couple of big months for Cherry-Evans.

With the awards followed by the grand final on Sunday, some are also suggesting Cherry-Evans could end up challenging Cronk for the Kangaroos No.7 jumper at the World Cup.

The Cronk-Thurston partnership has been a foundation for Queensland and the Kangaroos since Darren Lockyer's retirement but we are about to see the emergence of a new rivalry, similar to what Australia had in the days of Peter Sterling and Steve Mortimer, and Ricky Stuart and Allan Langer.

Foran says there is no doubt Cherry-Evans came back from Origin this year a better player - and if the Australia team was picked on form, Foran says Cronk would have a fight on his hands.

"I mean, I think Thurston and Cronk have got a great combination there and they have proved that together. But if you are talking on form, I think he has been the form half of the competition in the last 10 to 12 weeks," Foran said.

"When he came back from Origin I just think he must have got a lot of confidence out of playing those games and being around those world class players.

"I just noticed a massive change to him.

"I think he has been the best half in the competition by a country mile in this last 10 to 12 weeks."

Cherry-Evans admits his long-term goal is to be rated the best halfback in the game - but for now he just wants to win a seat on the plane to England at the end of the season.

"I definitely have a goal to be a part of that side at the end of the year," Cherry-Evans said.

"I know that to be in that side I need to play the best football I possibly can for Manly so as long as I worry about that first the rest will happen later.

"At some stage of my career I'd love to be known as the best player in the game but I think that is a few years off me.

"There are people who have had a lot more time in the game than I have and they have earned their stripes.

"So for me to think that I am in that echelon of players this early in my career I think would be a bit rude.

"I need to continue to play good footy over the next couple of years and then them accolades will look after themselves."

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Swans launch bid for Buddy

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THE Swans have made a $7m bid to steal Hawthorn's premiership winner Lance Franklin from cross-town rivals, the GWS Giants.

News Limited can reveal that the move, which will stun the AFL world and enrage Melbourne clubs, involves a five-year, $1.4m per season to lure Franklin to the 2012 premiers.

Franklin won his second premiership with the Hawks on Saturday but the superstar's transfer to the AFL's newest franchise, GWS, has been widely reported as a certainty all season.

The Hawks have cobbled together $1.1m a year to entice the goalkicking sensation to stay. and while the Swans' 11th hour offer is left in the shade by the Giants' $2m a season deal, there are a host of reasons that could win over Franklin.

* Franklin's close mate, Wallaby Kurtley Beale, has returned to Sydney to play Super Rugby for the Waratahs, who train at Allianz Stadium, next door to the SCG;

Kurtley Beale is confident his mooted Waratahs return would spark a return to form. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

* He would playing in a fearsome frontline alongside Kurt Tippett, the former Adelaide powerhouse;

* The Swans have room to move on the roster and salary cap, given recent retirements and transfers;

* Franklin could be contesting a premiership in 2014, rather than trying to avoid the wooden spoon with the young Giants; and

* The two-time Coleman medallist would be following in the footsteps of Tony Lockett and Barry Hall, St Kilda superstars who relished being out of the AFL spotlight in Sydney.

The Swans will also be pinning their hopes on the desire of Franklin for a change from the fish bowl existence of an AFL star in Melbourne.

Franklin is a regular on the Sydney social scene and loves the relative anonymity the NRL-loving city provides.

The Swans must clear the decks to fit Franklin into the salary cap but are helped by a combination of retirements and players on the move.

Space in the salary cap has been created by the retirement of three 2012 premiership players Jude Bolton, Marty Mattner and Mitch Morton.

Power forward Jesse White has also requested a trade and has met with Collingwood.

The big blow for the Swans would be the almost certain departure of premiership ruckman Shane Mumford.

Sydney are yet to make an offer to extend Mumford's four-year stay at the SCG.

Hawthorn are known to be very keen on his services and have regularly added to their talented with quality players from other clubs including Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake (Western Bulldogs), Jack Gunston (Adelaide), Shaun Burgoyne, David Hale and Josh Gibson (North Melbourne)

If the Swans do manage to pull of the audacious move Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold will be screaming blue murder over Sydney's nine per cent cost of living allowance.

The Melbourne presidents were up in arms when the best talent on the open market Tippett made his way to the Swans last year.

If Sydney do manage to snare Franklin and Tippett the pressure on the AFL to remove their allowance would further grow.

From a pure football point of view the sight of Tippett and Franklin playing in the same team and on the same forward line would be tantalising.

If Franklin does find his way to the SCG, Mumford is certainly gone and Tippett would have to carry some of the ruck duties with Mike Pyke.

His 202cm and 104kg frame is capable of handling the workload.

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Lack of top-up could see Mowen walk

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JUST three weeks after captaining the Wallabies, Ben Mowen is considering walking out of Australian rugby due to a payment dispute with the ARU.

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If Mowen walks, he will do so mid-next year and take up a lucrative deal in France.

It would be a massive blow to Super Rugby franchise the Brumbies, who are still reeling from the shock departure of coach Jake White last week, if their skipper left after the 2014 season.

Mowen is understood to be frustrated because he is not receiving a top-up contract from the ARU despite being a regular starter in the team - and the national captain against Argentina in Perth.

Mowen agreed to terms with the Brumbies until 2015, on the proviso he also gets an ARU top-up, which is not forthcoming.

The cash-strapped ARU is limiting top-ups to players.

They have introduced a policy where players will only get top-up payments if they have played for more than two years with the Wallabies.

In that scenario, Mowen would have to wait until 2015 for a top-up to his Brumbies salary, because he only made his Test debut this year at the age of 28.

But a frustration among players is that the ARU makes concessions for code-hoppers, such as current Wallabies fullback Israel Folau.

The ARU paid Folau a top-up to reject league and play rugby after he left the AFL, and he received a significant upgrade when he renegotiated his contract in late August, having played just five Tests.

They did the same with ex-leaguies Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers.

Mowen confirmed he had no deal with the ARU but referred the matter to his manager David Shand, who confirmed his client's predicament.

"He signed with the Brumbies, who have been good, now we're trying to get the ARU part of the deal done," Shand said.

Asked if Mowen has been approached by European clubs, Shand replied: "Of course, for the player the calibre of Ben who has captained his country".

In the absence of injured regular skipper James Horwill, Mowen took the honour of becoming Australia's 80th Test captain since 1899 when he led the Wallabies to a 14-13 win over Argentina on September 14.

But he was leading a dressing room of players earning significantly more.

Mowen still retains the vice-captaincy in the team and has developed his leadership credentials in the past two years by dragging the Brumbies from the tale of the Super Rugby ladder to grand finalists within two years.

White appointed Mowen skipper in 2012 even though he had been flicked from the Waratahs in favour of Rocky Elsom.

Mowen is not considered worthy of a top-up from the national body despite long-running talks.

The ARU believes that most Test players and aptly compensated by match payments, which are set at $14,000 per Test.

If a player was to feature in all 14 Tests this year, they will earn $196,000 in match payments alone, separate from their Super Rugby deals.

But the top-up element has been a crucial part of negotiations in past deals, and is guaranteed payment that is a safety net for players who miss Tests due to injury or non-selection.

Mowen was going to attempt to talk White out of his decision to quit the Brumbies last week when the pair met in Cape Town during the Wallabies preparations for the Springboks.

Mowen said he did not bother once White told him the decision was based on family, and the desire to be closer to his South African-based sons.

Mowen, a father, must now also weigh up what is best for his young family.

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From little boys to Manly legends

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AS little boys they were born just 13 months apart and grew up as best mates - as men Brett and Glenn Stewart remain inseparable.

On Sunday night they will team up together for their fourth NRL grand final when underdogs Manly take on the minor premiership winning Sydney Roosters.

Many good judges believe this brotherly connection is the Sea Eagles' secret weapon - and it's not just because of the way they play football together.

As Manly stalwart Peter Peters put it yesterday, it's like their bond has been the magnet that has pulled this team together.

"I have never known a closer bond and I am from a close knit family and family means everything to me,'' Peters said.

"I have seen a video of Brett and Glenn playing as kids.

"Their parents had put it together of their greatest tries and just to see the mateship even back then.

"And now at training you will see Glenn throw a pass up without looking and Brett will come through from 20 metres away and take it.

"You can't train for that, you can't coach it.''

On and off the field, it's like they would do anything and everything if it meant protecting each other.

"We are certainly close,'' Glenn said.

"I can't speak for other brothers but I couldn't imagine being closer than what we are.

"Like, I don't think it is possible, you know what I'm saying?''

To get a picture, Peters takes you back to a story when they were teenagers and Brett was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

"I reckon that is where their bond really started,' he said.

Then there was Brett's court case back in 2010 that dragged his name and his reputation through the mud before he was finally found not guilty.

Peters continued: "I have sat in the dugout with (Brett) and fans have said terrible things to him and he has sat there and copped it.

"And he listens to everything, he hears everything.

"A couple of times, I didn't think he'd heard. And he'd say; `Did you hear that?'

"It was hard to take.''

But then Peters tells you about their family and what they all mean to each other.

How their dad was a coal miner and a butcher and a father most importantly, who would do anything for his kids.

"Salt of the earth,'' Peters said.

Brett started laughing at training yesterday when we asked about his Dad.

"Dad doesn't sleep before the game, he is worse than us,'' Brett joked.

"I don't think Mum is much better.

"They just spent the weekend up here. They brought up our nieces and I spent the weekend with them and I guess next week will be the same.

"Sometimes you've got to tell them to go home.''

You saw in last Friday night's win over South Sydney what these brothers mean to this team.

One minute the Sea Eagles were trailing Souths 14-0 and mistakes from Glenn had directly led to every single point.

But then he did something magical, a deft little kick off his left boot that no one expected, except his brother.

And from there Manly marched into another grand final.

"There is definitely a connection,'' Glenn agreed.

"We were only 13 months apart and we grew up extra close and as best mates and we certainly played a lot of footy together and games around the backyard.

"I don't know if it's anything extra to what other brothers have but Brett seems to chase everything at 110 per cent so it certainly makes things look a bit easier.''

Brett added: "I am certainly not saying that I can read his mind, what he is going to do, but it definitely helps.

"This is our fourth grand final and you know if someone would have said 10 or 11 years ago we would have played in one I would have been stoked.

Brothers Glenn (left) and Brett Stewart have a very close bond. Picture Gregg Porteous

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SBW, Matai defied life of crime

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IMAGINE how many of these players would also be playing in NRL grand finals had they not been caught up in street gangs and drugs.

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Steve Matai and Sonny Bill Williams made it, emerging from the same high school and defying the luring shadows of Auckland's underbelly to shine on the biggest stage in rugby league.

Twelve years after they played together for Mt Albert Grammar's first XIII, the pair will face off in the NRL decider.

But many of their former teammates wound up on the wrong side of the law, including one of Matai's best friends who has only just been released from prison.

The Sea Eagles centre can only shake his head at the thought of the wasted talent he once played alongside.

"Our whole team that year, a lot of us could be here playing, but the boys were taking different options, walking different tracks," Matai told the Daily Telegraph.

"It was me, Tommy Leuluai (Warriors) and Sonny in the same team. It's good to see we still carried on playing.

"There were some talented boys in that team, if not better than me, who just made the wrong choices.

"It's good to see us all playing at the top level, coming from the same high school. I knew Tommy and Sonny were going to make it, I didn't see myself playing first grade but things went my way," he said.

"We had a good team, a few boys made the Auckland squad, we had a lot of talented boys who went the other way.

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"Just to see them make those choices was a bit disappointing.

"I'm happy I made the decision to keep playing, I'm happy Tommy and Sonny also made that decision, and not follow the crowd but knuckle down and train hard.

"I've been here almost 10 years, it shows that hard work pays off."

Both Matai and Williams have represented their countries, and are pillars of the hard-work ethic.

Both have had injury history and are meticulous with their training and preparation.

That discipline has served the pair well, with Matai on the verge of winning his third premiership and Williams his second.

Matai and Williams first encountered each other when they attended rival primary schools and played against each other.

They then attended Mt Albert Grammar where they became friends and teammates, though they rarely hung out together given Williams was younger.

Matai marked Williams when he burst on to the NRL in 2004 in the centres, but has rarely been on the field with him since given Williams's rugby union and boxing pursuits.

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