From Danny the Worm in todays Sun Herald -
Trent Barrett has been dignified in his silence since he signed on as head coach of the Sea Eagles, but don't think he is not working hard behind the scenes to ensure his first season is a winning one.
He has assembled an impressive team, with the highest-profile recruit shaping as Manly's favourite son Steve Menzies.
At this stage it's planned that the Sea Eagles legend will have an Allan Langer game-day-style role at the club. He'll be communicating with the players for Barrett on the field. It's the "blue shirt" role.
He would love the job if he can work it in with other commitments, including his role with Fox Sports.
Menzies wants to sit down with Barrett and work out if it was a five-days-a-week gig – which might rule him out. He'd also want to clear it with Geoff Toovey.
Others locked in to Team Barrett include Dan Ferris, who will be head of physical performance. Luke O'Donnell will be in charge of rehabilitation and his assistants will be Anthony Seibold and John Cartwright.
Out of respect to Toovey, Barrett has stayed away from the playing group. He obviously has had a say in decisions about next season: recruitment of next year's players has been a priority, rather than sackings from this year's squad.
One big name who won't be there is halves coach Andrew Johns. In a sign of Barrett's desire for a fresh start Johns has been told the club is moving in a different direction.
It may be the first time one Immortal (Bob Fulton) has overseen the departure of another.
"I'm fine with it," said Johns. "And I'd really like to use this opportunity to wish Trent all the best. I hope he has a lot of success." As for more coaching, such as the head position at the Knights? "Yeah, that'd go great," he laughed. "I don't want to do a head coach role. I do really enjoy the kind of thing that I did with Manly, especially working with the young halves. I'm not sure if I will do it again at this point.
"I haven't had a good break for a while and I'm planning on going surfing for a couple of months, so I will make a decision after that. " Toovey hasn't blown up about his sacking and, apart from an appearance at his official departure announcement, the Penn family – the club owners – have handled the final weeks of Toovey's coaching tenure with silence out of respect to the club legend.
The Penns knew they were in for a shellacking from the fans but have taken that in their stride. On top of that Toovey will be paid upwards of $450,000 to go fishing next year.
The Penns have been given a razzing, but it's worth remembering they pay all the bills at Manly. They paid upwards of $8 million to get ownership and they have every right to choose the captain of the good ship Manly.
They bought a mess under the previous management and were constantly bashed up in the board room via a 4-on-3 gang-up because of an alliance between the former part-owners Quantum and the District Football Club, which has two spots via a shareholders' agreement when the club was privatised.
The District Football Club is on a lifeline with its previous deeds not forgotten by anyone at the club.
It has a say on colours, name and home ground ... and little else. The club has called for members to meet the ever-changing board of the DFC at Manly Leagues Club before the Brookvale Oval game against Parramatta on Sunday, August 23.
Former player Mal Cochrane was listed as a board member two weeks ago when the DFC slammed the Sea Eagles over the dismissal of coach Toovey.
Cochrane and club secretary Julie Sibraa are missing from the board named in the latest email to members.
Former District Club and Leagues Club chairman Bob Reilly remains on the list, but he won't be greeting members. He has been banned for more than three years and the current board won't be lifting the ban any time soon following a long investigation of financial issues at the club by the Office of Liquor and Gaming. Reilly's exit from the Sea Eagles has been as sharp as was his rise.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...t-business-20150808-giuq3l.html#ixzz3iHeY9trq
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Trent Barrett has been dignified in his silence since he signed on as head coach of the Sea Eagles, but don't think he is not working hard behind the scenes to ensure his first season is a winning one.
He has assembled an impressive team, with the highest-profile recruit shaping as Manly's favourite son Steve Menzies.
At this stage it's planned that the Sea Eagles legend will have an Allan Langer game-day-style role at the club. He'll be communicating with the players for Barrett on the field. It's the "blue shirt" role.
He would love the job if he can work it in with other commitments, including his role with Fox Sports.
Menzies wants to sit down with Barrett and work out if it was a five-days-a-week gig – which might rule him out. He'd also want to clear it with Geoff Toovey.
Others locked in to Team Barrett include Dan Ferris, who will be head of physical performance. Luke O'Donnell will be in charge of rehabilitation and his assistants will be Anthony Seibold and John Cartwright.
Out of respect to Toovey, Barrett has stayed away from the playing group. He obviously has had a say in decisions about next season: recruitment of next year's players has been a priority, rather than sackings from this year's squad.
One big name who won't be there is halves coach Andrew Johns. In a sign of Barrett's desire for a fresh start Johns has been told the club is moving in a different direction.
It may be the first time one Immortal (Bob Fulton) has overseen the departure of another.
"I'm fine with it," said Johns. "And I'd really like to use this opportunity to wish Trent all the best. I hope he has a lot of success." As for more coaching, such as the head position at the Knights? "Yeah, that'd go great," he laughed. "I don't want to do a head coach role. I do really enjoy the kind of thing that I did with Manly, especially working with the young halves. I'm not sure if I will do it again at this point.
"I haven't had a good break for a while and I'm planning on going surfing for a couple of months, so I will make a decision after that. " Toovey hasn't blown up about his sacking and, apart from an appearance at his official departure announcement, the Penn family – the club owners – have handled the final weeks of Toovey's coaching tenure with silence out of respect to the club legend.
The Penns knew they were in for a shellacking from the fans but have taken that in their stride. On top of that Toovey will be paid upwards of $450,000 to go fishing next year.
The Penns have been given a razzing, but it's worth remembering they pay all the bills at Manly. They paid upwards of $8 million to get ownership and they have every right to choose the captain of the good ship Manly.
They bought a mess under the previous management and were constantly bashed up in the board room via a 4-on-3 gang-up because of an alliance between the former part-owners Quantum and the District Football Club, which has two spots via a shareholders' agreement when the club was privatised.
The District Football Club is on a lifeline with its previous deeds not forgotten by anyone at the club.
It has a say on colours, name and home ground ... and little else. The club has called for members to meet the ever-changing board of the DFC at Manly Leagues Club before the Brookvale Oval game against Parramatta on Sunday, August 23.
Former player Mal Cochrane was listed as a board member two weeks ago when the DFC slammed the Sea Eagles over the dismissal of coach Toovey.
Cochrane and club secretary Julie Sibraa are missing from the board named in the latest email to members.
Former District Club and Leagues Club chairman Bob Reilly remains on the list, but he won't be greeting members. He has been banned for more than three years and the current board won't be lifting the ban any time soon following a long investigation of financial issues at the club by the Office of Liquor and Gaming. Reilly's exit from the Sea Eagles has been as sharp as was his rise.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...t-business-20150808-giuq3l.html#ixzz3iHeY9trq
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
