Bomb Voyage
Reserve Grader
This club needs a reset. Not a tweak. Not a new assistant coach or a shiny signing. A reset. From the ground up. Because right now, Manly doesn’t know what it is. One week we throw the ball around like it’s a trial match, next week they’re grinding through a 10-8 slog. There’s no identity. No backbone. No real standard being lived out week to week.
The first thing that needs to be done is to get the right people in the room. Football people. Not board members, not sponsors, not marketing reps. Coaches. Recruiters. Junior development staff. Anyone whose job it is to build footballers. And ask one question: What does a Manly footballer look like? Because if you can’t answer that, you’ve got no business running a rugby league club. Once you know that, every decision flows from it.
Then we fix the pathways. Manly used to produce tough, smart, club-first kids. Not anymore. That pipeline’s dried up. You’ve got to invest in junior programs, build coaching continuity from Harold Matts to Cup, and give young players a reason to stay loyal. The Northern Beaches should be your factory. Right now, it’s barely a backyard shed. That needs to change.
Recruitment needs to be smarter. No more panic buys. No more “mate of a mate” signings, looking at you Isaac. No more washed up old front rowers or money ball signings. You don’t build a team by collecting names. You build it by identifying blokes who fit your identity and make others around them better. I’d rather three six-out-of-ten players who know their role than one nine-out-of-ten hero who’s not interested in digging in on tackle four. Build the middle third, get your spine settled, and stop plugging holes with random signings who don't fix your real issues.
And for God’s sake, we need to set standards. Not slogans like 'The Manly Way'. Standards. You train a certain way. You compete a certain way. You carry yourself a certain way because you’re wearing that jersey. Right now, too many blokes in that side look like they’re happy just being there. That’s not first grade. That’s entitlement. It doesn't help that the coach doesn't drop players for poor performances. You don't win games on history or potential, you win them on effort, discipline, and doing your job for the bloke next to you.
The club can turn around. But only if it’s honest with itself. No more papering over the cracks with a Turbo highlights reel. No more PR spin. You fix this thing by building strong foundations, holding people accountable, and actually standing for something again.
And when that happens? Then the rest takes care of itself.
The first thing that needs to be done is to get the right people in the room. Football people. Not board members, not sponsors, not marketing reps. Coaches. Recruiters. Junior development staff. Anyone whose job it is to build footballers. And ask one question: What does a Manly footballer look like? Because if you can’t answer that, you’ve got no business running a rugby league club. Once you know that, every decision flows from it.
Then we fix the pathways. Manly used to produce tough, smart, club-first kids. Not anymore. That pipeline’s dried up. You’ve got to invest in junior programs, build coaching continuity from Harold Matts to Cup, and give young players a reason to stay loyal. The Northern Beaches should be your factory. Right now, it’s barely a backyard shed. That needs to change.
Recruitment needs to be smarter. No more panic buys. No more “mate of a mate” signings, looking at you Isaac. No more washed up old front rowers or money ball signings. You don’t build a team by collecting names. You build it by identifying blokes who fit your identity and make others around them better. I’d rather three six-out-of-ten players who know their role than one nine-out-of-ten hero who’s not interested in digging in on tackle four. Build the middle third, get your spine settled, and stop plugging holes with random signings who don't fix your real issues.
And for God’s sake, we need to set standards. Not slogans like 'The Manly Way'. Standards. You train a certain way. You compete a certain way. You carry yourself a certain way because you’re wearing that jersey. Right now, too many blokes in that side look like they’re happy just being there. That’s not first grade. That’s entitlement. It doesn't help that the coach doesn't drop players for poor performances. You don't win games on history or potential, you win them on effort, discipline, and doing your job for the bloke next to you.
The club can turn around. But only if it’s honest with itself. No more papering over the cracks with a Turbo highlights reel. No more PR spin. You fix this thing by building strong foundations, holding people accountable, and actually standing for something again.
And when that happens? Then the rest takes care of itself.
