Manly’s CEO a straight shooter
MANLY will consider the historic step of giving their 19 contracted Polynesian players an official voice at the club after what the Sea Eagles’ new chief executive described as a “dark and gloomy week.”
Incoming CEO Tony Mestrov plans to discuss with head coach Des Hasler employing a dedicated Polynesian welfare officer.
Manly has 19 Polynesian players in its top-30 squad – second only to the Warriors.
The surprise development comes as the club continues to be engulfed in the pride jersey fiasco, in which seven Polynesian players stood down in protest from last Thursday’s match against Sydney Roosters on religious grounds.
“We will discuss and look at putting someone in our welfare department with a Polynesian background,” Mestrov said.
“There needs to be more consultation and collaboration with all of our players, particularly our players of Polynesian background. But obviously I have to talk to Des from a team perspective.
“What it would do is open lines of communication and integrate those players into the team environment. We need to understand – 100 per cent – their culture, religious beliefs and background so this is definitely something to consider.
“There needs to be consultation – something we can improve on in the future. And that way we can collaborate much more effectively.”
Mestrov arrives at a club with a divided playing group over the club’s contentious decision to wear a rainbow pride jumper last week.
“I watched from afar – I wasn’t in the job but kind of wished that I was. I tell you, the first thing is the communication between football and the office has to be supreme,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I think the message was mixed. The club wanted to say they were inclusive yet somehow through the process it didn’t work out that way.”
The 52-year-old took the reins at the club on Monday and says he is up for the fight.
“You know me, I’m upfront and a straight shooter. That’s part of my make-up as a person and has held me in good stead in my business life,” said Mestrov, who played 17 NRL games at Brookvale between 1990 and 1992.
“As a club, we need to be frank and we need to tell each other what we’re thinking – that is part of building a champion team.
“Those players have had those honest conversations (at a crisis meeting on Sunday) and that will hold us in good stead. That is what we need to be a good team.”
Mestrov will meet with his players on Wednesday.