NRL: Watmough labels Manly as toxic

Anthony Watmough faces off against his former side Manly in round one of the NRL season. Photo / Getty Images

Parramatta back-rower Anthony Watmough has lit the touch paper for an explosive clash with Manly on Friday by claiming there was a toxic environment around his former NRL club last season.

Watmough, who won two premierships with the Sea Eagles and is a life member of the club, made an acrimonious exit from at the end of last season to join the Eels where he said he feels more welcome that he did at the Sea Eagles in 2014.

"Manly was my home for so long, but it didn't feel like my home any more," Watmough told Fox Sports' Sterlo On The Couch show.

"I've been lucky to come out to a club who've embraced me as one of their own and I couldn't ask for any more. I feel like I've been here my whole life."

Manly also lost Glenn Stewart to South Sydney after the club failed to offer the NSW back-rower a new deal, and Watmough said that decision was endemic of what was wrong with the club at the time.

The Penn family are now the sole owners of the club after completing a takeover late last year and installing Joe Kelly as chief executive as the replacement for David Perry, who was shown the door.

"The fans aren't stupid and they knew there was a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes," he said.

"We were made to look a certain way and luckily for the club that side of the board has gone and there is no more a toxic environment and hopefully they can still be successful - but not as successful as us."

Sea Eagles prop Willie Mason claimed Watmough's comments were designed to stir up his new teammates and said he cannot wait to get involved in what is sure to be a bruising contest at Parramatta.

"There's not much talk about what 'Choc's' saying, everyone is sort of saying 'just let Choc talk, that is what he is going to do to get his team wound up'," Mason said.

"It's a totally different environment this year, with the new board. It will be exciting out there, everyone will be out there trying to bash each other, then we'll be stuffed on the sideline.

"These are the games you live for and why I am 34 and still playing."

-AAP