Manly players are ready to move into a new era for the NRL club, declaring they want to create their own legacy without the man who brought most of them into first grade.
Two-time premiership-winning coach Des Hasler’s fingerprints are still all over the Sea Eagles despite his departure to Canterbury in the off-season.
With the exception of Kangaroos forward Anthony Watmough and co-captain Jason King, who both made their NRL debuts for the Northern Eagles in 2002, every player in the Manly squad was either blooded into first grade or recruited to the club by Hasler.
Some of the club’s most senior players, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin and Steve Matai, have only ever known Hasler’s teachings when it comes to the NRL.
Another, co-captain Jamie Lyon, shares a close relationship with former recruitment officer Noel Cleal, who followed Hasler to Belmore.
But despite their departure, the mood is positive under Geoff Toovey as they look to become the first team since Brisbane in 1993 to defend their title in a unified competition.
“We’ve got to start our own new legacy now,” Watmough told AAP.
“We don’t have to change anything – we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing and that’s what we’ve all spoken about. Let’s not stress about stuff we can’t control.”
Ballin admits says the players, who will open their title defence against the Warriors at Eden Park on Sunday, understand and acknowledge the change as something that is unavoidable in rugby league.
“There’s always change with players leaving and you’ve got to make a decision in regards to your career all the time,” he said.
“Over the years we’ve lost some really important players to the squad.”
But Ballin says the Sea Eagles will use Hasler’s exit, and a desire to do well in Toovey’s first year, as motivation to go back-to-back.
“It’s been different but in saying that sometimes that’s really good. Tooves brings some different things, he’s got a different approach to Des,” he said.
“Everyone’s got behind him and we’re just going to turn it into a positive and a bit of motivation for the year.”
