Rookie Manly coach Trent Barrett has blamed a wretched run of injuries as the reason why the Sea Eagles have missed the NRL finals for the second straight season.
Manly were put out of their misery on Sunday after being thumped 36-6 by Penrith in the final game of the regular season at the foot of the mountains.
They finished seven points out of the finals race in 12th spot – a major disappointment for a club widely tipped to be top-eight contenders with a revamped roster.
However, Barrett couldn’t even bring himself to take solace in a six-all second half against a white-hot Panthers outfit at Pepper Stadium.
“You can’t take too much out of anything in the game to be honest. We’ll have a rest now. We’ve got a lot of work to do next year,” Barrett said.
The Sea Eagles appeared ready to fight for finals honours after clawing their way to eighth spot with a 4-4 record after round eight, including a shock win over Cronulla in round three.
However a four-game winning streak in July was sandwiched by seven-game and five-game losing streaks that put to bed any fairytale finals shot for the first-year coach.
Barrett said he wasn’t helped by an injury toll that limited key men Daly Cherry-Evans, Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart, Steve Matai, Dylan Walker, Jamie Buhrer, and Matt Parcell at various points in the year.
“It sounds like an excuse, but that’s the reality of it. It’s affected us big time,” he said.
He insists his squad can make up the four games required to make the finals next season.
“Hopefully the injury gods smile on us a little bit,” he said.
“I’ll never question the boys’ effort. They’re trying. It could’ve been an horrific scoreline if we weren’t having a crack. I’ll never doubt that. We’re just down on troops and experience.”
Priority number one in the off-season will be sorting out the futures of injured veterans Brett Stewart (knee) and Steve Matai (neck), both of whom are being backed to recover for next year.
Already gone from the 2016 roster are Jamie Lyon (retirement), Luke Burgess, Feleti Mateo (released) and Siosaia Vave (Parramatta), with only Shaun Lane (Warriors) and mid-season recruit Matthew Wright (North Queensland) coming in.
Melbourne playmaker Blake Green is believed to have agreed to sign on.
At least four players, including Dylan Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans and brothers Tom and Jake Trbojevic, will have off-season surgery to address niggling injuries.
WOUNDED EAGLES (games missed)
Steve Matai – 16
Brenton Lawrence – 13
Brett Stewart – 13
Jamie Buhrer – 10
Matt Parcell – 10
Apisai Koroisau – 7
Jamie Lyon – 7
Dylan Walker – 6
Daly Cherry-Evans – 5
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Henry coached the Titans last year and they ran 14th. Broncos had made the finals the year before, and their roster improved with Blair, Boyd, and Milford coming in and performing well. Melbourne don't only lose players either; they recruit as well as anyone -- Finucane, Green, and Blair were all smart signings at a developed level, and the young players they brought into first grade after smart recruitment in the younger ranks have been well selected too.
parra
Guest
I'm over the excuse that a team is in rebuilding for a few years to then be able to compete for the title. Neil Henry took over at the Titans and qualified for the Finals. It can be done but you need a good coach. Melbourne always lose players and make the finals. Wayne Bennet's first year back at the Broncos succeeded in making the GF etc. Not sure I rate Barrett as a coach.
Tom G
Guest
Maguire and Robinson had similarly forgettable seasons and are well into their career and yet they don't seem to attract the same level of criticism. I never agreed with the Toovey sacking however Manly fans really need to get over it .. It's over. At least give Barrett the benefit of a run with something like a first team at his disposal before burning the effigies and calling for his head on a spike. If he has this opportunities and the results remain then by all means break out the mob
steveng
Roar Rookie
And you can add 'Tooves' to that list, who had vision for the club just like Woolworths who have more money than vision and that might get them out of whatever trouble that they have created with Masters and their supermarkets.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
"Manly are starting to look like Woolworths." All because they passed on a Foran?
MAX
Guest
Your wonderful moniker is an apt description for what Manly may have to contend with for the next couple of seasons of team re building. If you make the 8 it would be great but I cannot see it happening. Manly are starting to look like Woolworths.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Oh Manly, Manly, Manly. Yesterday was a tragic slaughter ranking up there with Gallipoli. Probably worse with due respect to the fallen. Yes there have been some injuries. Yes there are a lot of old guys on the roster, but the age and the injuries that were likely to accompany age were entirely foreseeable. I mean Steve Matai has been held together with a ball of string and glad wrap for a few years now. The Snake, although being one of the most naturally gifted players I've ever seen, is well past his peak and should probably go and play in France with his brother at the Catalans. Who can kick a goal if Jamie Lyon isn't playing? It's a trick question Bozo and Zorba because the answer is nobody. Nobody in first grade ! Geez I have felt compelled to jump the fence in my suit and have a shot myself. Don't these coaches and officials realise that this is more than just a game of footy !? The Sea Eagles are part of the fabric of the Northern Beaches. The results of the team follow young blokes into the surf; accompany mothers into the shops with their children, and older citizens like myself onto the bowling green. There are probably a thousand school kids in the area sitting their final year exams in about two months time. What about their future? What responsibility is the whole circus that has become Brookvale going to take for that? At least the kids will do their best to put this season behind them and give it a go. And giving it a go is far more than can be said for the rolling disaster that has pulled on the maroon and white this year. Fair dinkum.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Probably has a point but thats footy. At full strength they're competitive but not enough depth to cope with that sort of injury toll. Who does? It's one of the risks in having a lot of coin tied up in older players.
Peeeko
Guest
I Trent has proved himself to be a first grade whinger