Des Hasler took Manly from perennial battlers to two-time premiers in his previous Sea Eagles stint, but Daly Cherry-Evans insists 2019 can’t just be lost to the beginning of a long-term rebuild.
Manly are desperate to turn a new page after a drama-plagued 2018 season, a campaign highlighted by Trent Barrett eventually being replaced as head coach by Hasler.
A club legend in his playing days, Hasler rebuilt Manly’s roster when he arrived in 2004 before returning the club to the finals a year later and delivering a title in 2008.
But after finishing second-last last season, captain Cherry-Evans said the club couldn’t afford to be talking about a rebuild beyond 2019.
“I think it would be silly to think too much about years ahead of us rather than just focusing on the season here,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I don’t think anyone is lucky enough to be able to come out and say they are rebuilding a club and playing group up.
“The NRL is way too demanding on head coaches and it’s a results game.
“So if you don’t perform it puts that coach under pressure. And I don’t necessarily agree that’s the right way to go about it, but that’s just the way it is.”
When Hasler last arrived the club was emerging out of the Northern Eagles debacle and he had the likes of the Stewart brothers and Anthony Watmough coming through the grades.
This time he already has Kangaroos stars in Tom and Jake Trbojevic plus Cherry-Evans, but he must also turn the club around from a difficult period both on and off the field.
“It’s completely different (this year). It’s like ripping off a band-aid. Everyone has just moved on,” Cherry-Evans said.
“It’s definitely a fresh start if you try and compare our last coach to our current coach … they are quite different in the way they approach a lot of aspects of the job.
“Obviously I was quite vocal about how much I enjoyed my time under Trent, but it’s definitely exciting times with Des back and I’ve really enjoyed my time under him so far.”
While much has been made over Hasler’s focus on defence – after the club ranked last in that category in 2018 – Cherry-Evans has indicated the attacking structure will change too.
The Sea Eagles were one of the most dangerous teams with momentum last season, but dropped in and out of games throughout the year.
Kane Elgey and Trent Hodkinson will battle for the five-eighth spot and exciting youngsters Albert Hopoate and Reuben Garrick could feature out wide, but the team otherwise looks very similar.
“Des and Trent are different coaches so there will be a contrast in styles in the way we play both defensively and in attack,” Cherry-Evans said.
“While we still have a lot of the same players, structurally things might change a little bit.”
“Hopefully our defence can come into play and we can not try to have to keep up in games off the back of good attack.”
SEA EAGLES
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2018 – 15th, 2017 – 6th, 2016 – 13th
Coach: Des Hasler
Captain: Daly Cherry-Evans
Key gains: Kane Elgey, Brendan Elliot (Titans).
Key losses: Brian Kelly (Titans), Shaun Lane (Eels), Akuila Uate (Huddersfield).
Best team: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Dylan Walker, 4. Moses Suli, 5 Reuben Garrick, 6. Kane Elgey, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Martin Taupau, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Addin Fonua-Blake, 11. Curtis Sironen, 12. Joel Thompson, 13. Jake Trbojevic. Bench: 14. Manase Fainu, 15. Kelepi Tanginoa, 16. Jack Gosiewski, 17. Taniela Paseka.
Predicted finish: 12th
