Sidelined? ... Brett Stewart's contract still hasn't been registered. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
Manly will hold urgent talks with the ARL Commission on Friday as they attempt to resolve Brett Stewart's long-running contract dispute before the start of the premiership.
Salary cap auditor Ian Schubert is yet to register the contract Stewart signed with the Sea Eagles late last year due to concerns over the club's salary cap, threatening his ability to play in the club's premiership opener against the Brisbane Broncos on March 8.
As one source suggested on Thursday, Stewart could be the "world's richest water boy".
It is understood Manly want to change the structure of Stewart's contract to bring it into line with the recent changes in the salary cap - the marquee player allowance has been lifted considerably under the new collective bargaining agreement.
The plan would result in shifting some of Stewart's reported $550,000-a-year contract from the cap to the marquee allowance, thereby easing pressure on the club's salary cap.
At the behest of Manly, the ARLC raised the issue of altering contracts at the chief executives meeting on Wednesday but it is understood several clubs raised their concerns.
Schubert is also believed to have rejected an initial approach from Manly over the changes, although further talks will take place on Friday.
If Schubert and the ARLC refuse to budge, Manly will be left with no choice but to hold a fire sale of players if it wants Stewart available to play against the Broncos.
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The club has already shed forward Vic Mauro and half Liam Foran.
Those moves were expected to create space for Stewart but it appears the club has more work to do after gambling on the size of the salary cap this season.
The final figure - a cap of $5.15 million and marquee allowance of $550,000 - was agreed only this month.
It is understood several players have already been offered to rival clubs in an attempt to create room for Stewart.
"He's one of the integral parts of the team," former Manly captain Max Krilich said.
"They need him. That's the unfortunate part of the salary cap. Unfortunately they might have to offload someone else. We need him in there.
"You need him in your starting line-up and go from there. I just hope they can get it done."
Asked how disruptive moving players on the eve of the season could be, Krilich said: "It would be particularly disruptive for the bloke they give the heave-ho."
Despite all the issues surrounding Stewart, Manly have held talks with Sydney Roosters utility Tom Symonds and hope to announce his signing in coming days.
The Sea Eagles can ill-afford to be without their star fullback, particularly in light of the ongoing absence of his brother Glenn due to a knee injury.
Glenn, one of Manly's best players last season, is expected to miss the opening month of the premiership.
Brett has been one of the most potent try-scorers in Manly history, having crossed 127 times in his 159 first-grade games.
He only needs to score another three tries to pass club legend Bob Fulton, which would take him into second place in Sea Eagles' history.
After that, all that remains is to reel in another legend, Steve Menzies, who finished his career with 151 tries for the club.
