Fuming Sea Eagles players have reportedly sent angry text messages to each other following the decision by seven teammates to pull out of the club’s crucial Roosters clash.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the players demanded to know why the seven players in question put the Sea Eagles’ finals hopes in jeopardy over the pride shirt saga.
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With their season in danger of imploding, Manly’s group of players held an emergency meeting on Sunday in the hope of calming things down and mending relations ahead of the final five rounds of the regular season.
Reports suggest the team eased tensions ahead of the group’s return to practice.
The emergency meeting was prompted by a breakfast between Josh Aloiai, one of the players who boycotted the game, Jake Trbojevic, Lachlan Croker and another member of the team.
Aloiai alongside Tolutau Koula, Haumole Olakau’atu, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley and Christian Tuipulotu refused to play on religious grounds, angering their teammates.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield provided details of the crisis meeting on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“The club brought in a professional mediator to get the players’ group together to try and come to an understanding between both sides,” Rothfield said.
“I don’t think they will ever agree that the players did the right thing by pulling out of the game last week, but what they want is for the players who played to understand better what and why. they did
“That’s why everything was put on the table yesterday and there were discussions.
“I was told at the end of last week that the risk among the players in the team was basically that it was not reversible, that it was quite deep and that the guys who played and played very bravely against the Roosters couldn’t understand why his peers took such drastic actions.
“I think after meeting yesterday there’s an understanding, I still think there’s a long way to go before it’s fully resolved to a satisfactory position where they’re ready because they like every club in the NRL to have camaraderie and points full-time strong.and spirit.
“I think you can call it an awkward truce between the players.”
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It comes amid fears within the playing group that the Pride shirt saga could continue next season after players denied they would be willing to pull on the kit in 2023.
“I’m certainly aware that the playing group is coming together,” Manly chairman Scott Penn told the Big Sports Breakfast last week.
“It’s very important that everyone gets together and just talks about it. There needs to be an ‘open air’ session, which is perfectly normal under these circumstances.”
“There’s no deep division that’s been reported, but I think there’s some frustration with the way this all played out.
“I met six of the seven: Josh (Aloiai) was injured and wasn’t training, but I spoke to him a little later. They are very determined and put themselves in a difficult position, but there is no resentment. As I discussed with them at the time, their focus now is on Parramatta.
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“The seven were very clear in their religious views and beliefs and we totally respected that. They have from certain circles and that’s unfortunate because we never wanted to put them in that position.
“In the next five weeks we will see a very cohesive team. It was an emotional week and the circumstances put everyone in a difficult position.”
Reports suggest the meeting was not to try to change their minds, but to clear the air and find common ground on why the group pulled out.
As it stands, the Sea Eagles sit in 10th place, one win behind the Roosters and Raiders.
Des Hasler’s side will take on the Eels, Titans, Sharks, Raiders and Bulldogs to close out the season, with each game a must-see encounter.