- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
If recent reports regarding Fortress Brookvale are true – and let’s face it, where there’s smoke on the Peninsula there’s a Daly Cherry-Evans sized inferno – Manly’s proven historic winning blueprint is poised for the scrapheap in favour of an untried coach named Trent Barrett.
Some clubs aim for glory using methods successfully honed over many years, while others tinker well-used formulas in search of a successful identity.
The Rabbitohs and Roosters hit the jackpot with rookie NRL coaches who were hardened by stints heading Super League outfits. Brisbane dialled a former girlfriend after six lonely years and once again find themselves marching towards the premiership alter.
It’s no surprise Barrett is on leave, Phil Gould probably asked the Penrith assistant to consider this: of the 10 coaches to guide Manly since their inaugural premiership in 1972, eight have played for the club on grand final day and the two outsiders didn’t deliver a title.
Graham Lowe was the first outsider of the last 44 years and brought an impressive resume including Wigan’s restoration. But after three moderate seasons the Eagles summonsed an old flame, reinstating premiership golden boy Bob Fulton after a four-year absence.
The only other outsider was Peter Sharp, who covered for ‘Bozo’ in 1999 before continuing through the failed Northern Eagles venture.
As the Sea Eagles struggle to extend their wings under new ownership, one thing is clear: internal and external scrutiny on the coach next season will be of blow-torch proportions, especially if 2015 finishes before the finals.
The perceived demise of Geoff Toovey seems heartless and unwarranted from the outside but those best qualified will be expected to deliver a better alternative if a change is necessary.
Manly is currently a delicate beast, where nothing short of the top eight in 2016 is acceptable. Add lingering emotions from the Glenn Stewart debacle, difficulty in moulding a roster around Cherry-Evans’ lifetime contract, and persistent relocation rumours and it’s clear a coach with runs on the board should preside over rookie shark bait.
Barrett has morphed into a useful right-hand man, but mastering the unique workings of a foreign club from pole position is of an entirely different magnitude – to which Brad Arthur can attest.
There’s only one thing worse than the demise of a rookie coach, and that’s a deliberate move by the owners to abandon the club’s distinguished traditions.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.