Manly to consider Stewart for selection

Star fullback Brett Stewart is set to play in Manly's NRL season opener on Saturday despite facing an allegation of sexual assault.

Stewart returned to training with his teammates on Monday and Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said he would be considered for selection against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

Manly is facing calls to stand Stewart down while police investigate a 17-year-old girl's claim that he sexually assaulted her on Friday night, following the club's season launch.

"At this stage it is still an allegation. We will wait and see where the investigation goes," said Mayer.

"Our advice at the moment is that we have to look at the case as it stands.

"It's an allegation only and if Brett is healthy and is fit to play he will be available for selection."

Mayer met with Manly staff and players to discuss the issue before the team's session at the Narrabeen training complex where a large media contingent was gathered.

He told reporters he'd spoken to Stewart who was understandably upset about the allegation, which has been denied.

Stewart has not been charged with anything.

"There is no doubt that for his whole family it has been a tough time," said Mayer.

"There's a lot of media scrutiny justifiably around the issue but again he is a footballer and if he is there to be selected for Saturday's game and is fit I'm sure he'll make himself available."

Mayer revealed the club has considered imposing an alcohol ban on its players in the wake of problems stemming from Friday's season launch, where second rower Anthony Watmough is also alleged to have slapped a sponsor.

"We've been thinking about this for 48 hours now and while it sounds a strong measure and I understand why people are supporting it, I think the great difficulty at this moment is to enforce it," said Mayer.

"And I still believe there is an individual responsibility on all players in regards to how they drink."

Mayer acknowledged the level of alcohol drinking by some players had been "unacceptable" on Friday and admitted it may not have been wise to hold the season launch at a licensed hotel.

"Of course you second guess yourself a fair bit but I guess for the time I have been at the club it has been applauded by journalists from around the country in regards to our off field performance and attitude and culture and there was no reason to believe anything like this could happen," said Mayer.

"You look back and perhaps it wasn't a great decision and there is no doubt the drinking that took place on Friday was unacceptable."

Mayer indicated Stewart and Watmough were likely to face disciplinary action from the club later in the week over their drinking on Friday.

Asked if that could include alcohol bans he said: "There's ramifications and we'll discuss them but we won't not discuss them today."

Mayer described the controversy since Friday as a "body blow" for the club.

"It's unbelievably disappointing on a personal front but also on a professional front," he said.

"We have come back to defend an NRL premiership, we are also now world club champions so ordinarily you'd be celebrating those two feats.

"To walk into a season five days out and this happens, it's obviously a body blow."

Manly coach Des Hasler backed his players to be able to set aside the off-field concerns this week as they prepared to start their season on Saturday.

"One thing about this team is that they are a very professional side, the way they go about their preparation, the way they go about their footy, the way they go about their work during the week," said Hasler.

"They're aware of the situation but as the week goes on the focus will go more and more on the game."