Barrett: ‘My players are professionals’

RUGBY LEAGUE: Manly coach Trent Barrett insists he won’t let the club’s salary cap sanctions distract players ahead of today’s clash with Canberra.

The Sea Eagles confirmed they would challenge Monday’s penalty for breaches, which included $330,000 being struck off both their 2018 and 2019 caps.

Failure to overturn the decision, could risk the future of at least some players at the club.

There are 11 players off contract next year. Of those, up to seven could face Canberra.

“We’ve spoken as a group about it and we’ll do our best to keep them informed,” Barrett said. “The players that I’ve got in the room now are here to do a job. They’re professionals and we’ll keep them in the loop as much as we can. I would love to keep all of them.”

Players have already spoken about using the latest developments to galvanise the team.

“It’s certainly not of their concern and nothing of their doing,” Barrett said.

“It’s certainly not unusual for this group of players to be going through a week like this given some of the stuff that has happened. It’s no difference to us, we’ve got two points to get tomorrow against Canberra and we really need them.”

Despite flogging Parramatta 54-0 in round two, the Sea Eagles risk going 1-3 with a loss to the winless Canberra.

Manly beat Canberra twice in golden point last year.