Star Manly recruit Martin Taupau says the sky is the limit for the Sea Eagles as they attempt to put last year’s roller-coaster NRL season behind them.
Taupau took a leap of faith at the end of last year by cutting short his stint at Wests Tigers to join Manly on a four-season deal under rookie coach Trent Barrett.
Manly has endured years of infighting, and it came to a head last year when the club plummeted to last spot on the table before making a belated charge for the finals.
The Sea Eagles eventually finished ninth.
But it wasn’t enough to save the job of coach Geoff Toovey, whose decision not to offer Glenn Stewart a new contract in 2014 came back to haunt him.
But Taupau is optimistic that a bright future lies ahead, and he’s pinning his faith on a new-look Manly set-up to produce the goods.
“There’s something in the waters over there. We needed change, and that’s what’s happened,” Taupau said.
“The sky’s the limit for us. Anything is achievable.
“There’s a sense of self belief in our team – not only within the players, but also in the coaching staff, the admin, and our fans.
“A few of the players like Daly Cherry-Evans and the boys who have played in the past, are saying there’s a new feeling.”
Taupau said it was a hard decision to cut short his time at Wests Tigers, but he simply needed a change to get the best out of himself.