Coach Phil Blake still has a job to do at Manly Marlins

PHIL Blake has declared he still a job to finish with the Manly Marlins after being poached by the European powerhouse Leicester Tigers.

Shute Shield rugby game - Manly Marlins v Eastwood at Manly Oval. New Manly coach Phil Blake.

PHIL Blake has declared he still a job to finish with the Manly Marlins after being poached by the European powerhouse Leicester Tigers

The Marlins mentor has negotiated to take up his new role as assistant coach in charge of defence once his commitments at Manly are finished this season.

“I always wanted to go to the next level in the UK or Europe but you never expect you are going to get an opportunity with such a high calibre side like Leicester, the don’t come any bigger than them,” Blake said.

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The Tigers have 10 internationals on their books and have appeared in a record nine successive premiership finals between 2005—2013.

Phil Blake is off to join Leicester Tigers at the end of this season.

If anything his new deal has made Blake all the more determined to leave Manly as a winner.

Right now Blake, the former Wallabies assistant coach, has his side sitting undefeated on top of the Shute Shield table after 10 rounds.

“It was really good Leicester gave me the opportunity to finish what I started here over the past year and a half, ” Blake said.

“We are not going to have a better opportunity and the form suggests we are one of the better sides.

“But we have a long way to go and there is a lot of football to be played before anyone is lifting any silverware.”

Blake pointed out that the Marlins won’t have the same playing roster next year, such is the nature of modern rugby.

Phil Bake and the Manly Marlins have unfinished business.

“Blokes will hopefully go on and play at higher levels and others will retire,” he said.

“For this group of players is now or never but we are far from over the line.”

This afternoon Manly puts their unbeaten run on the line against Randwick at Coogee Oval.

“They are a formidable side who have done really well in the last couple of weeks.” Blake said.

“I told blokes that this potentially could be our toughest game this year because they are playing with a lot of confidence.”

Former Canberra forward Chris Cocca will start at tighthead prop.