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Memories of Geoff Toovey’s silhouette fading over the horizon will linger but as the sun rises will the same level of affection be afforded to his replacement?
Certainly not on present form. Manly’s current hole would need to be lined with more than precious metals to convince diehards the club is on the path to September action.
Trent Barrett is the first out-of-towner to head the northern beaches outfit since 2003, but the welcoming party is winding down to the morbid tunes of defeat as restless supporters seek fill from the Keg-of-Success.
Arriving at Brookvale with integrity intact, Barrett confidently expressed his blueprint to News Limited.
“I know we can attack, that’s not going to be a problem,” he said. “There’s plenty of points in the team and it’s the other side of the coin we are working really hard on.”
But off-season talk can be cheap, especially without the weekly interrogation from opponents. So the former Panthers assistant casually eased into the saddle as positive headlines comforted fans.
Now after two rounds, Barrett’s realities have come home to bite; he can either grab the reins on Bob Fulton’s astutely built horse or sit back and watch the rest of the field bolt.
The proud defensive fortress constructed over the past decade is now a rubble, demolished in ten days by a whopping 12 tries that have shamelessly exposed the pitfalls of Bozo’s hand-picked combination.
First Canterbury’s streamlined giants manhandled the home side’s much-hyped pack before Wests’ speedsters blazed a trail of destruction down the Leichhardt flanks.
In fairness to Barrett, he’s not the first coach snookered by untried combinations, and Brett Stewart is yet to lace a boot.
Compromising the quest for success is the equally poor form of the club’s second-grade side.
Add the complexity created by Kieran Foran’s departure and suddenly all fingers point towards the elephant in the room, Dylan Walker.
What is it about a 21-year-old with three seasons at centre that persuades a coach and his mentor he’s able to fill an international playmaker’s boots from day one at a new club?
Walker showed scintillating glimpses on Monday night but the heightened defensive burden is reason enough for the youngster to revert back to his natural position before his confidence is totally spent.
A position swap complements the Sea Eagles’ need for speed out wide and in Jamie Lyon they have a premiership winning five-eighth capable of straightening the attack.
Barrett’s issue is Lyon’s preference to remain at centre and represents the rookie coach’s first big test. At none-from-two it’s a fine line between pressing the panic button or allowing the season to drift aimlessly into the abyss.
A Walker-Lyon switch would assert Barrett’s authority and instil confidence to operate beyond Fulton’s shadow.
The last thing Manly need is a gun-shy coach piloting a directionless disaster with an inherent mess for assistant John Cartwright to clean.
Oddly for Cartwright, Manly’s plight is a bizarre déjà vu situation where a repeat fairytale ending depends on Barrett reaching his peak.
Back in 2001 Graham Murray was the Roosters’ version of Geoff Toovey, controversially axed despite reaching the finals and a grand final the year before.
Cartwright paired with Ricky Stuart to pick up the pieces. And, in spite of a publicised defensive drive by the rookie coach, the Roosters still slumped to four losses in the opening five rounds before miraculously finding their feet and first premiership since 1975.
There’s little doubt Barrett would be smothered with fan affection in the event of a Sticky repeat. Just as intriguing however, would be the opinion of the luckless former coach.
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