SEA EAGLES big bopper George Rose has called on Manly officials to do everything they can to hold onto Brent Kite, saying the veteran prop is a vital mentor to the club's emerging forwards.
After it was revealed earlier this week Kite has been given permission to look for a new club in 2013, despite being contracted to Manly for one more season, Sea Eagles players yesterday said his potential defection to the Wests Tigers will not derail their premiership charge.
"I'd urge the club to do whatever they can to keep the whole group together,'' Rose said today.
"We've been successful for a while and we've still got a long way to go, but it'd be great to keep the group together.
"Kitey's been here as long as I've been here and he's been a leader and a role model to most of the forwards who have come through. He's developed a few of the front rowers who have come through. He's been great for the club.
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"Obviously we want to keep everyone around. I think we've got a great squad. If there weren't any restrictions, the salary cap and stuff like that it'd be great to keep this group together, but you can't. It's hard to do that when you've got big offers out there. Players keep getting better and they've got to get there moneys worth.
"I'm sure with the culture that we've built at the club, whoever comes in is going to fit in and really enjoy what's already here.''
Coach Geoff Toovey said Kite remains contracted with the Sea Eagles for next year and confirmed no deal has been struck with a rival club.
However, Toovey said he is reluctant to discuss sensitive contract talks with his team focused solely on their important final round clash against the Titans on Saturday.
"Brent's contracted here for next year. I don't go into personal contracts with anyone. That's between the club and him and we'll go from there,'' Toovey said.
Captain Jason King said he did not want to wade into the difficult issue.
