Roosters pair said to be flying coop

Updated June 18, 2012 15:50:16

Sydney Roosters players are trying to come to terms with reports that Sam Perrett and Anthony Mitchell could both be leaving the club midseason.

Reports on Monday morning linked New Zealand Test winger Perrett to the Bulldogs and hooker Mitchell to North Queensland with both apparently requesting an immediate release.

Roosters officials on Monday declined to comment on the status of both men but team-mates were seeking confirmation of the players' intentions as they gathered at Sydney's Coogee beach for a recovery session following Sunday's win over Wests Tigers.

"The boys (heard) whispers of it (Perrett's situation) this morning when we arrived at recovery, but I haven't asked him about it, to be honest. I haven't seen him yet," prop Martin Kennedy told reporters.

"It will come out later on, but I'm not sure what the story is there at all.

"I hadn't heard anything about it 'til last night and then this morning.

"Sammy is a pretty honest guy, I'll ask him when I see him.

"Sammy is always in great form, he's one of those players that you love to play with.

"He's been at the Roosters since I've been there and someone I've looked up to as long as I've been there, so I definitely want to keep him around if I could."

Asked about Mitchell, whose potential switch to the Cowboys was flagged on Twitter, Kennedy said: "That's the first I've heard of that, so I'll have to ask Ant when I see him".

Forward Lama Tasi was philosophical about the rumours.

"Sam and Anthony Mitchell are great guys and whatever they choose to do, it's their choice," Tasi said.

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, bondi-junction-2022, nsw, australia

First posted June 18, 2012 15:50:16

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Flying Sea Eagles punish Cowboys

Updated June 11, 2011 22:24:00

Manly enhanced its credentials as a genuine NRL premiership contender, easing past North Queensland 24-4 in Saturday's only NRL clash.

The victory moved Des Hasler's side into second spot on the ladder as they chalked up a fifth successive victory at a sodden Brookvale Oval.

Two tries from Brett Stewart maintained his brilliant record on home soil, taking his tally to a remarkable 57 in 58 games with George Rose and Steve Matai also going over for the hosts.

The Cowboys, who started the game in fourth spot, again struggled in attack without co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott, who were absent due to Queensland State of Origin commitments.

Their record without Thurston makes sorry reading, with just seven wins from the 26 games the Test half-back has not been involved in since 2005.

Manly, which was without NSW stars Anthony Watmough and Will Hopoate, came racing out of the blocks, with Matai almost scoring from the opening set after a sweeping move.

Stewart broke the deadlock in the third minute, latching onto a deliciously-weighted kick from Daly Cherry-Evans and Rose then bulldozed his way over for his second four-pointer in as many games.

The Cowboys failed to make inroads in attack in the opening quarter-of-an-hour as they battled to hold off a marauding home side.

In addition to looking sharp in attack, Manly showed great resilience in defence as the visitors pressed for the line in the latter stages of the opening period with Dallas Johnson, Glenn Hall and Kalifa Faifai Loa all being denied.

The second stanza followed a similar pattern to the first with the Sea Eagles going over less than two minutes after the restart through Matai following Ashley Graham's fumble on the second tackle deep inside his own half.

In addition to conceding the try, the Cowboys also lost Antonio Winterstein who became the latest victim of a torn pectoral muscle as he tried to thwart the big Kiwi centre.

Graham atoned for his earlier error in the 59th minute, brushing past a poor tackle from Michael Oldfield to score the visitors' first points of the game.

However, Manly responded well soon after when Stewart added his second of the night, following a smart chip-kick by Kieran Foran with Jamie Lyon adding the extras with his fourth successful kick of the game.

Former Sea Eagle Hall's return to Brookvale saw him placed on report in the second half for a swinging arm across the face of Glenn Stewart.

Manly: 24 (B Stewart 2, G Rose, S Matai tries; J Lyon 4 cons)

North Queensland: 4 (A Graham try)

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, nsw, manly-2095, qld, townsville-4810

First posted June 11, 2011 21:30:00

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