Manly CEO Tony Mestrov has denied breaching the NRL’s anti-tampering rules after Ricky Stuart suggested the Sea Eagles had been negotiating with veteran halfback Jamal Fogarty before his contract clause deadline lifts.
Stuart finished his Saturday night press conference after the Raiders’ 50-12 hammering of Parramatta referencing extensive reports of the Sea Eagles’ plans to sign Fogarty as Daly Cherry-Evans’ replacement.
As of Monday, Fogarty is a free agent, with Canberra allowing their club option to retain him for 2026 – at about $650,000 – to lapse, with plans to table a new one-year offer.
The Raiders are resigned to losing the 31-year-old but aren’t willing to offer a multi-year deal – which Manly are – given it would impact rookie Ethan Sanders’ progression as a long-term playmaker.
Stuart made that clear speaking in Darwin, while also referencing the NRL’s anti-tampering rules, which in this case are complicated by club and player options in Fogarty’s contract.
Canberra denied a request from Fogarty’s management for him to hit the market in February, but he can entertain formal offers from rival clubs this week.
Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty.Credit: Getty Images
“We want to keep Jamal,” Stuart said. “And we’ll know early this week whether there has been contract negotiations with Manly or not over the last two or three weeks, which we keep hearing, even though you’re not allowed to do it.
“We will sit down with Jamal early in the week and we will tell him exactly what we’ve got. He was very happy in regards to what I discussed with him early this week. So I’ll know if there’s been prior communication with Manly… I want to keep Jamal here.”
Canberra do not plan to lodge an official complaint with the NRL due to the difficulties of proving illegal negotiations.
Sources speaking on condition of anonymity to speak freely said a Sea Eagles official had since contacted the Raiders to clarify their interest and contact with Fogarty’s management.
Mestrov dismissed Stuart’s comments on Sunday and the NRL confirmed no contract offer had been lodged with head office.
“There’s other players we’re interested in, it doesn’t mean we’re talking to them,” Mestrov said.
“I’ve said we’re interested in him. But we haven’t spoken to him, we haven’t made an offer and I’ve been really clear on that.
“There’s nothing really more to say and I’m happy to leave it at that.”
Manly are prepared to offer Fogarty a two-year deal to partner Luke Brooks in the halves once Cherry-Evans departs at the end of the season.
The Sea Eagles see Fogarty as a bridging half given their high hopes for young playmakers Joey Walsh (18) and Onitoni Large (17), who are rated among the best up-and-coming halves in the game.
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