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Coach Barrett reveals team’s key focus areas
Manly’s Marty Taupau in the trial against the Sydney Roosters at Central Coast Stadium. Picture: Getty
SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett has identified key areas his players are focusing on in the countdown to next Friday’s season opener against the Knights in Newcastle.
“We can’t take the pedal off — there are still things to fix,” Barrett said.
And last week’s trial against the Roosters provided a guide as to where the improvements needed to come.
“I was disappointed with our last plays defensively, conceding three tries off kicks,” Barrett said.
“They were ugly but they are still worth four points so that’s an area we need to address before round one.
“Our ball control was pretty poor at times, our completions were quite low.”
Barrett said he would be after a bit more urgency in a few areas.
“I thought our attack looked really good but there are still some things to work on there,” he said.
“Our attack will evolve over the course of the season.
“At the start of the year the teams that win are the teams that are the best defensively and control the footy.”
Crusader Barrett
Trent bird’s-eye view of Sea Eagles as well as Super Rugby’s finest
SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett heads into his third season as an NRL coach with no inhibitions about going outside the square to continue his bid to take Manly back to the top of the premiership.
Barrett had drones hovering above training at Narrabeen on Tuesday to give him a bird’s-eye view of an opposed session before flying to Christchurch for a promotional visit which he turned into a fact-finding mission.
Manly will play the New Zealand Warriors in Christ
church in round 14 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
Barrett attended several meetings in Christchurch before heading to a training session with the Canterbury Crusaders, who have a host of champion All Blacks.
He was immediately impressed with the hospitality and willingness to swap ideas he had with Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
Barrett arrived back in Sydney on Wednesday night armed with several ideas he wants to implement at the Sea Eagles.
“The Crusaders are successful for a reason on and off the field,” Barrett said.
“I’m happy to take what I can out of an opportunity from another football code.”
KELEPI ROCKS
TWO outstanding trial games will win forward Kelepi Tanginoa a spot in Manly’s 17 to play the Knights in Newcastle next Friday night.
The former NSW junior rep played 13 games for Parramatta in 2013-14 after coming through their junior program. He played three games with the Cowboys before joining Manly mid-season last year.
Tanginoa rocked the big Rooster forwards with some punishing defence last weekend in Gosford in a display which reinforced what coach Trent Barrett has been thinking right through summer training.
When asked a month ago
to tip a shock selection in his round one team Barrett said: “Kelepi Tanginoa — he’s training the house down.”
He is not a shock selection any more.
STOKED ON CROKER
LACHLAN Croker won the admiration of teammates with his defensive performance against the Roosters. They ran plenty of their big men at him and the new Manly fiveeighth didn’t flinch.
He was also very slick in attack and will start alongside skipper Daly Cherry-Evans for his premiership first grade debut for the Sea Eagles in the big clash with Newcastle next Friday night.
Coach Barrett reveals team’s key focus areas

Manly’s Marty Taupau in the trial against the Sydney Roosters at Central Coast Stadium. Picture: Getty
SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett has identified key areas his players are focusing on in the countdown to next Friday’s season opener against the Knights in Newcastle.
“We can’t take the pedal off — there are still things to fix,” Barrett said.
And last week’s trial against the Roosters provided a guide as to where the improvements needed to come.
“I was disappointed with our last plays defensively, conceding three tries off kicks,” Barrett said.
“They were ugly but they are still worth four points so that’s an area we need to address before round one.
“Our ball control was pretty poor at times, our completions were quite low.”
Barrett said he would be after a bit more urgency in a few areas.
“I thought our attack looked really good but there are still some things to work on there,” he said.
“Our attack will evolve over the course of the season.
“At the start of the year the teams that win are the teams that are the best defensively and control the footy.”
Crusader Barrett
Trent bird’s-eye view of Sea Eagles as well as Super Rugby’s finest

SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett heads into his third season as an NRL coach with no inhibitions about going outside the square to continue his bid to take Manly back to the top of the premiership.
Barrett had drones hovering above training at Narrabeen on Tuesday to give him a bird’s-eye view of an opposed session before flying to Christchurch for a promotional visit which he turned into a fact-finding mission.
Manly will play the New Zealand Warriors in Christ
church in round 14 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
Barrett attended several meetings in Christchurch before heading to a training session with the Canterbury Crusaders, who have a host of champion All Blacks.
He was immediately impressed with the hospitality and willingness to swap ideas he had with Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
Barrett arrived back in Sydney on Wednesday night armed with several ideas he wants to implement at the Sea Eagles.
“The Crusaders are successful for a reason on and off the field,” Barrett said.
“I’m happy to take what I can out of an opportunity from another football code.”
KELEPI ROCKS
TWO outstanding trial games will win forward Kelepi Tanginoa a spot in Manly’s 17 to play the Knights in Newcastle next Friday night.
The former NSW junior rep played 13 games for Parramatta in 2013-14 after coming through their junior program. He played three games with the Cowboys before joining Manly mid-season last year.
Tanginoa rocked the big Rooster forwards with some punishing defence last weekend in Gosford in a display which reinforced what coach Trent Barrett has been thinking right through summer training.
When asked a month ago
to tip a shock selection in his round one team Barrett said: “Kelepi Tanginoa — he’s training the house down.”
He is not a shock selection any more.
STOKED ON CROKER
LACHLAN Croker won the admiration of teammates with his defensive performance against the Roosters. They ran plenty of their big men at him and the new Manly fiveeighth didn’t flinch.
He was also very slick in attack and will start alongside skipper Daly Cherry-Evans for his premiership first grade debut for the Sea Eagles in the big clash with Newcastle next Friday night.