With coach Matt Elliott fired, the Warriors are in disarray and there’s no guarantee they can hang onto veteran players Simon Mannering and Jacob Lillyman for the upcoming year.
At the conclusion of the season, Mannering, 27, and Lillyman, 30, will be off contract. They are at the top of a list of first-grade players, and they know how important their next contract is.
Entering his tenth season with the Warriors, Mannering serves as the team’s captain. Since joining in 2009, Lillyman has shown to be their most reliable and effective forward this season.
“When you sign on the dotted line in that way because you love a club, it’s not as clear-cut anymore. I adore this club, but I also love my family, and I have a duty to look out for them.
“The past few years have affected me in some way. My partner would say that if you asked her. It’s been challenging. I am certain that I do not wish to follow that path once more.”
For most NRL clubs, Mannering would be an appealing offer. Being a three-time Player of the Year and one of the top second-row players in the NBA, he is unquestionably the most reliable player for the Warriors.
Prior to transitioning to league as a teenager, he played rugby growing up, and while he still
Considering everything that has transpired, I still feel content here and would like to remain. I’ve had an amazing experience with a fantastic group of guys. It’s an excellent club. That will undoubtedly be considered, but this is a significant contract. I will undoubtedly thoroughly study all offers and weigh them carefully.
“I’m not very interested in traveling abroad. My goal is to end my NRL career, if that’s feasible.”
The team still has decisions to make about a number of players who are not under contract, including Nathan Friend, Kevin Locke, Suaia Matagi, Jerome Ropati, Sione Lousi, Charlie Gubb, and Sebastine Ikahihifo, despite being sidetracked by happenings off the field. It must pursue its objectives as well, but the previous few
