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Insight into what his players think of him:- (old article btw)
Trent Barrett to Manly rumours continue as Panthers assistant coach misses training
THERE were some notable absentees from Panthers training on Monday. Matt Moylan watched on with the aid of crutches, Josh Mansour limped around the gym in a leg brace and Jamie Soward never emerged from the doctor’s office.
However, by far the most glaring omission was that of Penrith assistant coach Trent Barrett.
The former NSW and Australian star has been heavily linked to take over the head-coaching job at Manly from Geoff Toovey.
It appears that would most likely happen next season, but reports have suggested the switch could even be looming within weeks.
Either way, it seemed unusual for the Panthers’ assistant to not be on-field with coach Ivan Cleary and fellow staffers David Fairleigh, Shane Elford, Ronnie Palmer and Cameron Ciraldo putting the players through their paces.
Penrith officials were vague on Barrett’s whereabouts, but it’s understood the attack coach was upstairs, away from the cameras, preparing video for future sessions.
Even in his absence, Barrett was the talk at training on Monday, with players admitting they were shocked to hear news of his potential exit.
Young prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard said Barrett would leave a “massive” hole if he was to part ways with the Panthers.
“I’ve only just heard about it. I hope it’s not true, Baz is massive,” said Campbell-Gillard.
“He’s helped me, he’s helped everyone at this club — especially the youngsters. He’s massive to this club and I hope he doesn’t go.
“I think he could coach anywhere. He’s definitely a massive asset to a club and he’s just football smart and just knows what he’s talking about. He’ll get a job somewhere but I hope he doesn’t leave here.”
Isaah Yeo said as a young player, the unusual prospect of a coach switching allegiances mid-season was something for people higher up the food chain to ponder.
However, the young forward agreed with Campbell-Gillard that Manly would be lucky to have Barrett.
“He’s a great coach … he’s our brains behind most things,” he said.
Veteran halfback Peter Wallace said Barrett was well and truly ready to become a head coach — and said his ability to relate to players was one of his greatest assets.
“He’s a real good bloke, very fair,” said Wallace.
Soward arrived at Penrith on Monday without the sling he left the stadium in last Friday night, in a positive sign that he will pass fitness tests during the week and face the Storm.
In a positive for the injury-ravaged Panthers, centre Dean Whare trained on Monday and looks set to finally return from ongoing hamstring trouble.
Whare is capable of filling in for Moylan (out for six weeks, ankle) at fullback, although that job is most likely going to go to young excitement machine Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.