Sea Eagles’ Trent Barrett opens up on his first year as coach

SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett admits that right now he is going through a tough time with the semi-finals in full flight and Manly’s season over.

Manly coach Trent Barrett has spoken frankly about the 2016 season. Picture: Mark Evans.

SEA Eagles coach Trent Barrett admits that right now he is going through a tough time.

The NRL finals are is in full flight but the season has already ended for him and his Manly team.

“I certainly want the players to hurt that they are not in the semi-finals. I certainly am. And it’ll just make us more determined to get in there next year,” Barrett said.

He is watching the finals but admits “it’s very difficult to take”.

In this exclusive interview Barrett has opened up about what happened this season and why he is confident 2017 will be a good year.

Coach Trent Barrett talks to his players at training. Picture: Gregg Porteous

BAPTISM OF FIRE

BARRETT faced the toughest of initiations as a head coach with a big turnover in players and staff as well as being confronted by a crippling injury toll that started in the Auckland Nines and never let up.

“I came in knowing it was a difficult job, but it was probably made that little bit more difficult due to some of the circumstances that we had to deal with during the year,” he said.

Barrett said the hardest part of the job was keeping the squad buoyant when they were missing so many players.

“There were times there when we had all of our senior players out,” he said.

Barrett said there were periods during the season that got to him. “You have your days. I take those losses hard and I guess the 24 hours after the game is difficult. But then you have to get back on the bike and do your job. Get through the review and get ready for next week,” he said. “But the run of losses was a tough time for everybody.”

Trent Barrett has learnt a lot of lessons in his first year as an NRL coach. Picture: Mark Evans

THE LESSONS

BARRETT said season 2016 reinforced how important the pre-season was, how important it was to have the best players do a full pre-season and to have two three solid hit-outs before the season proper.

“I think the Ipswich trial didn’t help us and we got put into a position where we missed our Roosters trial because they were at the World Club Challenge,” he said.

“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again. And it’s important we get those combinations right from the get-go, and get off to a good start.”

And Barrett said he would be a better coach for all he has been through in 2016.

“I was never doubting my ability as a coach. I am always confident in what I believe in and how to get the best out of squad,” he said.

Steve Matai was one of the Sea Eagles stars sidelined with injury. Picture. Phil Hillyard.

THE CASUALTY LIST

BARRETT would not use the number of injuries, particularly to key players, as an excuse. But club “godfather” Ken Arthurson said he had never seen anything like it.

Barrett said the absences of big name stars such as Daly Cherry-Evans, Steve Matai, Brett Stewart and Jamie Lyon meant a lot of players were thrust in there who hadn’t played a lot of first grade.

“We will be better for it,” he said. “Through different stages of the season I thought they handled it really well.

“I think it has made some of the younger guys grow up a little bit quicker than we would have hoped they needed to.

“Here’s hoping the injury gods smile on us a little bit, particularly to the players in key positions.”

Barrett said they could always cover for an injured outside back, a backrower or front-rower.

“But when it is your halfback or your hooker or fullback or five-eighth — the spine of your side — that’s where you need that solidarity around them. And that’s something we didn’t have all year.”

The form of Tom Trbojevic was one of the highlights of the season. Picture: Getty Images.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE development through the season of young players Jake and Tom Trbojevic along with Addin Fonua-Blake were good things to come out of this season, Barrett said. And there were also good performances from players such as Api Koroisau.

“We asked a lot of him this season and he played in a lot of different positions,” Barrett said.

The coach said the form of skipper Jamie Lyon in Manly’s run of wins was terrific, Matai was a standout before injury ended his season and Cherry-Evans finished the season strongly.

He was also proud of the character shown by the players under adversity.

“They never gave up,” Barrett said. “There were times there where scorelines could have got ugly but I don’t think anyone could accuse those players of ever not giving their all,” he said.

Trent Barrett as Manly loose in golden point against the Bulldogs: Picture: Mark Evans..

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS

THERE were four games that Barrett said the Sea Eagles should have won. “And that probably would have got us into the eight,” he said. “Given all the things that did go wrong we still had our opportunities to put ourselves in the semi-finals.”

The games were the loss to Penrith after leading 22-0, the 16-12 loss to Souths early in the year, the loss to the Bulldogs in golden point and the defeat by Parramatta on the bell.

New Sea Eagles recruit Shaun Lane.

WHY 2017 WILL BE GOOD

“THE players we are bringing into the squad will probably give us a better balance,” Barrett said.

They include former Bulldogs and Warriors forward Shaun Lane.

“He is a good, tall edge backrower. He is only young and certainly has plenty of ability,” he said. “You look at the top four sides now and they are all big.”

Barrett said everyone knew his expectations and the players would be a lot more comfortable with the coaching staff and each other. “We had a lot of new players come to the club last year and a few more this year — and that’s why the pre-season is going to be so important, ” he said.

Trent Barrett won’t be coaching in fear of his job. Picture: Jenny Evans

UNDER THE PUMP

BARRETT said there was always pressure on a coach. “I guess if you’re coaching in fear of your job you’re going to make the wrong decisions and I won’t do that. It is what it is,” he said.

“Ultimately, you have to win and I understand that. But that doesn’t worry me — it isn’t going to change the way I approach things.”

Despite the intensity that comes with the job Barrett, 38, seemingly hasn’t aged and is as personable as he was when he entered the big time with Illawarra, from Temora, as a gifted five-eighth.

“I feel all right. That’s my job to get in there, put on a brave face and get the boys going again,” he said.

“They need a strong leader and I feel like I provided that for them this year. I’ll keep evolving and getting better as a coach and still ask them to get better as players.”

THE ESCAPE

FOR Barrett, a devoted family man, spending time with his wife Kylie and their children Romy, 12, Bohden, 11, Halle, 7, and Mia, 6, is just the tonic to escape from the pressures of coaching in the NRL.

“But they are older, too, so their week is good or bad depending on the result of the game,” he said.

“They take the losses pretty hard and know Dad is in a better mood when we win,” he said, with laugh.

“But I do spend as much time as I can with them when I’m not in the office or not at training and that is down time for me,” he said. “Last year was pretty hectic so I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time around here.”