An independent mediator will be called in to resolve the disagreement between the NRL and Manly over Brett Stewart's medical retirement clearance if the Sea Eagles' appeal is rejected.
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Fairfax Media understands the Sea Eagles will clear almost a million dollars from this year's salary cap if they are granted the dispensation for the now retired Stewart and his former teammate, Steve Matai.
The Sea Eagles will submit their appeal to integrity unit boss Nick Weeks after the NRL's chief medical officer Paul Bloomfield rejected Manly's attempt to have Stewart's contract exempt from this year's salary cap.
However, if Weeks knocks back Manly's appeal, an independent mediator will have the final say on whether Stewart suffered a one-off career-ending injury that forced him to retire prematurely.
Under the NRL rules, clubs are entitled to salary cap dispensation if they can prove a player was forced into retirement by a non pre-existing injury, however Stewart's chronic battle with knee problems has made it hard for Manly to successfully claim the cap exemption.
The Sea Eagles are also gathering independent opinions to support Matai's submission for a medical retirement clearance, which the NRL will examine over the next few weeks.
The Sea Eagles might have a hard time convincing Bloomfield that the neck and shoulder injury that has prohibited Matai from training this pre-season isn't pre-existing given he spent 13 years as the club's doctor.
Stewart, who now spends most of his time in Melbourne given his financial interests in Toko Japanese restaurant, also hasn't trained with the Sea Eagles in the off-season since undergoing surgery on his knee.
Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, Manly will have to pay out the final year of Stewart's and Matai's contracts, but if they is exempt from the salary cap they will be able to lure new players to the club in 2017.
