With the dust barely settled on the storm that was Des Hasler leaving the Eagles’ nest for Belmore, the question needs to be asked: does this stand Manly in better stead for back-to-back success than if he had stayed?
There is often opinion on high-intensity coaches like Hasler, Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy and others, that their all-consuming approach leads to increased player burn-out and an inability to get up for the next week, or the next season for that matter.
Will Geoff Toovey’s emergence to the top post at Manly result in a revitalised playing group?
Coming off the back of a certainly draining – although highly successful – five-year period, this may just prove to be the key position change the Eagles need to stay at the top.
St George Illawarra, after a mostly victorious three-year period under Wayne Bennett, look to have been the most recent team to suffer this kind of downfall, with a late 4-1-10 record seeing them bundled out of the 2011 premiership race.
Such a high-intensity game plan, stacked with suffocating defence and consistently pressuring attack, no doubt took its toll on the Saints mental stamina.
It’s been long rumoured that this exact player burn-out occured during Ricky Stuart’s time at Bondi. With disappointing finals misses in 2005-06, it led to the club parting ways with Stuart after leading the Roosters to three successive grand finals from 2002-04, including a premiership triumph. (It can be argued though that Brad Fittler’s departure coincided exactly with this variance in success, so the jury remains out.)
A similar view can be hypothesised for Manly’s 2012 campaign had Hasler been retained. Having reached the summit not once, but twice, in the last four years, it would widely be assumed that the playing group could potentially become jaded (not even factoring in the off-field soap opera that was the Brett Stewart-David Gallop saga under Hasler’s stewardship).
The Sea Eagles playing roster remains relatively stable, with the exception of the loss of young hot-shot Will Hopoate, and two honest clubmen in Shane Rodney and Michael Robertson.
They still boast current international and Origin stars stars in Watmough, Foran, Cherry-Evans, Lyon, Ballin, King, Matai and the Stewart brothers.
Toovey is as maroon and white as they come, he is not a new coach to the club, and by his own admission will leverage off a lot of the current structures, systems and ideas the club has been successful with to date.
Going back to back has proved elusive for NRL teams of late, with the last to do it being Brisbane in 1992-93, Manly may just have the unintentional elixir to help break this trend in the age of high-pressure professional coaches. After 18 years of chokes and stumbles from the trophy holders, they look the best chance yet to break this drought.
mushi
Guest
I don't know why you're putting up Bennet and Bellamy as warning signs of what could happen. If the down side is regular trips to the grand final and minor premierships then I think most teams would take it.
GoddyofAus
Roar Rookie
I wrote an article where I was very scathing of the Manly board for their handling of the Des Hasler debacle, and I stand by the points I made. With that said, I think Manly will make the 8, but they will be bungled out of the finals by a better coached team. Even if they finish in a decent position like 5th or 6th then get beaten, the Manly board will still look back and wonder if Des would have made a difference.
Stu
Guest
Just wondering if the NRL had any help in moving Hasler. Putting one of the games successful coaches in GWS isn't a silly move. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Fletcher_Celand
Roar Rookie
I agree that there have been no real indications so far of player burn out at Manly, but I guess the idea the article is relaying is the Eagles may have unintentionally avoided this occuring like other clubs have experienced - nipped in the bud so to speak. 'He enjoys the support of players' - as did Stuart and Bennett - clear though that it came at a long-term cost to those teams...
Fletcher_Celand
Roar Rookie
The subject matter of Manly is always hard to swallow, although the irony of that statement is that I'm a Roosters fan! Now there's a conversation for another time....
Fletcher_Celand
Roar Rookie
100% agree Moondog. It seems Newcastle and Manly, off the back of media led coach hysteria, have directly swapped betting lines to where they should appear! Tigers minor premiership favourites - no chance in the world for minor, big chance for major...
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don't think there were any signs that Manly players were burnt out by Hasler's approach. From all reports he enjoys the support of players more than any other coach bar Bennett. How many Manly players had Hasler get out clauses in their contracts ? His teams made GFs in 2007, 2008 and 2011, that's a fair amount of time and doesn't suggest that players were burned out by Hasler. "inability to get up for the next week" - never seen it. Hasler's sides are ultra-consistent and usually fly under the radar because they don't have a big game one week then fall apart the next. The Manly board and officials may have been burned out by Hasler but I don't think the players were.
Andy
Guest
There is plenty of incentive for manly's ageing forward pack to perform given the competition for spots. Also, that a new coach can have different favourites that he wants to keep or promote into the starting side. In addition, there is a starting wing spot up for grabs. So Manly should not be going soft any time soon.
Moondog
Guest
Realistically Manly should be favourites this year. Nice to see the bookies offering overs though.
Pete
Guest
Well written Fletcher. No I dont think they will go back to back,hell they can't even get their jersey in order....and why are they having them made overseas?. I, like many League Lovers was hoping the Warriors would win the GF.I can't stand manly...and was shocked when 3 or 4 of their players got off with running into the 'brawl'.B.Stewart should not have been playing in the GF after charging in.Then the whole Gallop thing. Personally I'd like to see them get the spoon. I don't think Toovey will make much of a difference unless he takes the field himself although they do have two great halves in Foran and Cherry-Evans.Perhaps Cliffy Lyons will have an impact.But back to back....I dont think so. Other than the subject matter ..Manly...it was a good article with some facts and stats and you asked a few good questions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I urge you to do an article on the 80min game where we dont get to see 80min of football (it's more like 60min).Calling time off when the ball is not in play.Sure the game would go longer but they seem to waste so much time standing at the scrum ,drop outs ,kicks for goal etc....let them stand around but call time off,throw in a quick 30 second ad ,this is where we can slightly alter the programming to assure we match or better the afl's broadcast package.
Mals
Guest
Paul, the front office at Manly in recent years has had turmoil & clashes with the Manly coaching staff but this has not affected Manly's performance on the field. Toovey is not as combative as Hasler, he is a certified accountant as well as serving on the NRMA board for a number of years so he would be more aware of how the front office management works. Fletcher good article, for Manly's sake I hope you are right & they do go back to back this season!
Paul
Guest
I think alot depends on wether the board leaves toovey to do his own thing, but being a rookie coach and the recent events i fear that the imploding may only have just begun. Theres no doubt they have the talent but if the place is a basket case in the front office they will have no chance.