Manly Sea Eagles news 2022: Kieran Foran delivers some home truths on Manly’s Top 4 record
Manly star Kieran Foran has delivered some brutal home truths to his teammates as he details how the Sea Eagles can cement their place among the NRL heavyweights.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Manly played sublime attacking football last season, scored some exhilarating tries and came within one game of an NRL grand final – yet Sea Eagles five-eighth Kieran Foran wasn’t fooled.
In an honest interview with The Daily Telegraph ahead his side’s season-opener against Penrith on Thursday night, Foran admitted Manly was “blown off the park” and were “never in the contest” last season against premiership heavyweights, including the Panthers.
After an off-season which concentrated on defence, and a crop of dazzling rookies now a year older, Foran and his Sea Eagles head into 2022 aware his side can now take that giant extra leap to success.
While delighted at Manly’s unexpected top four finish last year, Foran conceded his side was “still a fair way off Melbourne, Penrith and Souths.”
“We can be proud of how we turned around our season from the start we had and be proud of the style of footy we were able to develop as a footy team and we had some really good wins throughout the year,” Foran said.
“But if you’re talking about that final step, we were still a fair way off Melbourne, Penrith and Souths.
“Every time we played them, it’s fair to say, we were never really in the contests, barring one game there against Melbourne at Suncorp late in the year, we were in that contest (28-18 loss).
“But if I look at the other games throughout the year, and then come finals time, we were just blown off the park by those sides. It just showed where we were at in comparison to those top sides last year.
“Look, we had our moments through the year and we had games where we were really good defensively but against those top sides we just leaked too many points.”
Aware his team came up short last year Foran has offered reasons why Manly can now match it with the premiership hot shots, despite the club being quiet during off-season recruitment.
“We have taken a lot of learnings away from last year and looked at where we fell short compared to those sides and we are trying to rectify that this year,” he said.
“Our young guys have another year of experience under their belt now so they will be so much more hardened and be ready for the week to week grind of NRL footy.
“There’s no denying premierships are won off defence and if you look at the amount of points we leaked at times … sure, well and good, we were able to come up with the attacking footy but you at Penrith’s defensive record through the year. I thought they were really, really tight.
“I think defensively we were a fair way off those top sides last year. There was nothing wrong with our attack. We moved the ball beautifully and scored points when we needed to, even against those sides.
“But we found it difficult to defend them and that’s been a fairly big focal point over the pre-season.”
Finally injury-free, Foran – still only 31 - strung together 25 games last season. His body remains fresh this year, his desire as strong as ever.
“I feel good. We had about ten weeks off all up during the off season. It has been a condensed pre-season because we didn’t come back until early December and then Covid hit most clubs after January,” he said.
“Dessie (Hasler) has put the kilometres into us, it’s been really tough. We have done all the work required in the gym and out on the field. Physically, and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone, everyone is ready to go.”
In the final year of his Manly deal, Foran feels healthy enough to consider continuing his stellar career.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead to be completely honest but my focus is on starting the year well. I’m feeling great physically and mentally so there’s no reason why I can’t continue to stay on and stay here for as long as I can,” he said.
“But it all comes down to performances, doesn’t it? At the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to perform. I was reasonably happy with how I went last year – and how we went as a footy side – but I have to aim up and do that again this year. If I do that I am sure it will unfold.
“Coming back to Manly last year was great, being back under Dessie and being around old mates, ‘Chezza’ (Daly Cherry-Evans) and blokes that I have played with in the past that I’ve enjoyed playing next to.
“And also staying injury free, staying on the paddock week in, week out. It makes you happy when you’re contributing, you’re out on the field every week, every session. That all plays a role in enjoying your footy and keeping a smile on your face. Hopefully I can do that again this year.”
SEA EAGLES CRY FOUL OVER RULE CHANGE
Concerned his side’s high-octane attack – led by the incomparable Tom Trbojevic - may be deliberately nullified, Manly chairman Scott Penn has issued a plea to the NRL: “Don’t let teams slow us down.”
Penn expressed “concerns” about a significant off-season rule change along with opposition sides wanting to illegally shut down his soaring Sea Eagles.
Free-flowing Manly kick off this NRL season with a huge match against premiers Penrith at Bluebet Stadium on Thursday night.
Manly ignited the NRL last year – their fluent style prompting host broadcaster Channel 9 to show 12 of the club’s 24 games this season on free-to-air.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
Last year, Manly scored the most long-range tries (35) in the NRL while the club’s back-three - Trbojevic (28), Reuben Garrick (23) and Jason Saab (26) - scored a combined total of 77 tries, 16 more than the Bulldogs. The Sea Eagles also cracked 30 points in 14 games.
While heavy rain may stymie their attack on Thursday night, the Sea Eagles want to thrill and exhilarate this year – provided they are allowed to.
The off-season rule change which has annoyed Penn reads: “Instead of a set-start, a penalty will be awarded if a team commits a ruck infringement or has a player or players inside the ten metres while inside the 40 metre zone of the team in possession.”
“I’m very confident we can entertain the same way we have but we want to make sure the game isn’t slowed down,” Penn said. “Our boys have been very successful at throwing the ball around and entertaining. That is what fans want to see more of as well. We have a lot of fast players and we want to take advantage of it. Our (television) ratings increase on the back of expansionary play.
“The x-factor we are a little concerned about is this rule change with the penalty inside the 40 metres. It was a six again compared to it now being a stop play. It is something we are keeping an eye on. We would have preferred to stay the way it was because we seem to be able to take advantage of that.
“We think that will change the game, it will slow it down. We are concerned it will slow down the amount of time the ball is in play. We want an environment where the ball is in play as much as possible, we want things that will aid that, not take away from that.
“Having the pace that we’ve got, I think we scored more tries from inside our own half than anyone else, it will be interesting to see how that plays out now it’s a penalty. It will stop play and if you have momentum, it will stop that momentum. It is something everyone will need to adjust to.
“We want to make sure players aren’t giving away penalties on purpose – I understand the logic – but we don’t want that to come at a cost slowing down play and not giving attacking teams an opportunity.
“Certainly Peter (V’landys, ARL chairman) and Graham (Annesley, NRL head of football) have been vocal about attempting to keep the ball in play more often; time in play is really important from a spectacle perspective.”
Opposition sides will also try to slow down Manly at the play the ball, by finding touch, defending the ruck and deliberately moving off-side.
Asked whether he feared opposition sides would try and slow down his side, Penn said: “Of course, yeah, yes. And that’s something we’re definitely wary of. All the teams that have done well in the last five years or so have been very good at play the ball speed and moving the ball.”
Garrick said his side wanted to throw the ball around again in 2022 yet might be hampered by the rule change.
“Towards the pre-season they have thrown out the rule changes so I think that would have changed the way we have trained a little bit,” Garrick told Fox Sports.
“With that rule change (six again) you don’t have to be as fit I’m thinking, which is a bit of a shame, but it is what it is.”
Manly coach Des Hasler meanwhile named injured pair Martin Taupau and Haumole Olakau’atu for the Panthers game.
CHERRY-EVANS ISSUES WARNING TO RIVALS
Daly Cherry-Evans was forced to repel an escalating temptation to quit rugby league when he was labelled a ‘Filthy Cockroach’ for backflipping on a deal to join the Gold Coast seven years ago.
“I wasn’t going to run away – I wasn’t going to leave without a fight,” Cherry-Evans said.
Now he’s taking that same attitude into defending his position as Australian and Queensland halfback as rivals Nathan Cleary and Sam Walker circle his representative jerseys.
The Manly star, who is on the cusp of extending his Sea Eagles contract ahead of his 12th season in the NRL, says he hasn’t lost his passion for being the best.
“I’m so competitive, I want more, so I’m going to keep playing, I’m going to keep trying to make Origin. I’m going to keep trying to play for Australia and I’m going to keep trying to win a premiership at Manly,” Cherry-Evans, 33, said.
And he will get the chance to back up his words with actions when he faces Cleary’s Panthers in an opening-round blockbuster next Thursday, and he will back it up with a clash against Walker and the Roosters a week later.
In a wide-ranging interview, Cherry-Evans spoke openly about the adverse impact his decision to backflip on Gold Coast Titans in 2015 to remain at Manly had on his stellar career.
The decision to sign a life deal at Brookvale prompted a disgruntled Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper to run a controversial front page story labelling Cherry-Evans a ‘Filthy Cockroach’. According to Cherry-Evans, the criticism “took a toll.”
Cherry-Evans will become the first player onto the field for this year’s NRL season when leading out Manly in Thursday night’s season opener against Penrith at BlueBet Stadium.
YOU WON’T BREAK ME
Cherry-Evans copped heavy condemnation for his decision to withdraw from the Titans deal to remain a Sea Eagle for life – but he wasn’t going to break him.
“I had a down year in 2016 off the back of everything that was going on in my career. It culminated with me questioning myself about whether it was all really worth it? I was getting hammered and it was ‘poor me’,” Cherry-Evans said.
“That took a toll. But I went away and thought: ‘What are you doing?’, ‘What do you want?’ All those questions pop up. But it came back to the fact I love the game.
“I wasn’t going to run away and I wasn’t going to leave without putting up a fight. It would have been such a shame to walk away from such a cool game that’s been such a big part of my time for so long.
“I have felt ever since then I have really elevated my game and it feels like it’s getting better and better every year. You can never too far ahead of yourself in rugby league.”
ONE STEP AHEAD
Cherry-Evans stressed the importance of all players evolving – otherwise you become “too predictable”.
“I think if your game stays the same – you will obviously build consistency – but after a while you usually get figured out. Me and ‘Foz’ (Kieran Foran) speak about the ability to be able to adapt and play a different style of footy, keep the opposition guessing and put your team in a really good position,” he said.
Asked whether that kept him stimulated. Cherry-Evans said: “Bloody oath it does.
“We’ve got good coaching staff here with Des (Hasler) and the assistants. They give you things to work on and improve, variations to bring into your game. I really enjoy that side of it. Don’t become too predictable, basically.
“I love all those challenges that come with rugby league. Now days you also have to look after your body. There is a challenge in looking after yourself away from footy.
“It was more relaxed when I first came in around your recovery and how you spent your time when you weren’t at training. The enjoyment to do all that is there. Running out on game day, there’s still so much satisfaction.”
I’LL PLAY ON
Cherry-Evans knows rugby league has afforded him so many benefits – and that’s why he wants to play on.
“Gratitude? One-hundred per cent. I don’t take it for granted at all. I realise, selfishly, I live this amazing lifestyle. I live on the northern beaches and I get to do so many cool things with the game. I get to bring up my family and hopefully give my kids a happy lifestyle,” he said.
“I don’t feel as though I’m someone who has taken that for granted. It’s hard to explain but as a kid you grow up just wanting to play NRL but you probably don’t even understand what that can bring – the luxuries that can bring you and your family.
“That’s why I feel I want to continue to do this for as long as I can. It’s not just because I get an amazing lifestyle but what am I going to do when I retire? It’s that simple. I just love this game so much so why wouldn’t I want to continue playing it for as long as I can.
“Later in my career, hopefully I’m helping the next generation come through and continue to fly the flag proudly for Manly.
“Where I’m at right now, how do I say it, I’m not scared about retirement. I’m not counting down and I’m not fearful of retiring because I have been so lucky to play at this level for so long and I have been able to do so many good things within the game, stuff I will be really proud of when I retire.”
ORIGIN PASSION
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga caused a stir last month when he declared the Australian No. 7 jersey was Cherry-Evans’ to lose, despite Cleary’s emergence as an Origin and premiership winner.
Cherry-Evans has shown the passion still burns for representative football, which would likely come with the captaincy if he were to retain his position.
Not even the emergence of Queensland whiz kid Walker has dampened his quest to play at the top level.
“I’m so competitive, I want more, so I’m going to keep playing, I’m going to keep trying to make Origin. I’m going to keep trying to play for Australia and I’m going to keep trying to win a premiership at Manly,” he said.
“That’s the stuff that keeps you ticking every day. But, ultimately, I don’t want to think about life after footy until it has to be stopped. Mate, I love it, I love the game, game day for me is still the best day of the week. I love footy, I love competing and I love having to improve if you don’t adjust.
“The game has completely changed from my first game and I’ve really enjoyed the challenges that come with adapting, adjusting, improving your game and trying to outsmart your opposition.
“It’s another season but this one comes with more belief and internal expectations are a little higher than before, based on the foundation we built last year. We have spoken about that as a group, where we’re at and the opportunity that we’ve got. It’s really exciting, it’s really cool.”
THE RIGHT TIME
While he has no desire to retire right now, Cherry-Evans will listen when told his time has arrived.
“I won’t play for too long. Because I’ve been able to have the career that I’ve had, I won’t push it for too long,” he said. “If I’ve got people close to me saying: ‘You’re out of touch here’ then I’d be happy to say that’s time.
“As long as the club is in a good position to bring people through then I’d be happy to walk away at the right time.”
CHERRY LEGACY
How will history remember Daly Cherry-Evans?
“I’m the sort of person that doesn’t want to give myself too many pats on the back because I feel I haven’t finished the job,” he said.
“I’m someone who likes to see the end result. I still have so much more hope left in me and that there is more to come when it comes to my footy career and the success that comes with it.
“I know I’ve done some cool things along the way that I can be proud of and that my kids can look back and say they watched Dad try his best and give it a crack. Maybe when it’s all said and done, like most people, I will sit back and say that’s pretty nice.
“We are in such a good spot here at this club. Individually, I feel like my body and head are really clear on how I can finish the last few years of my career. I’m really excited about it.
“I just feel there’s so much more to come.”
NRL live: Roosters put on masterclass against hurt Sea Eagles
The Roosters will head to Melbourne to face the Storm in the preliminary final after demolishing the rattled Sea Eagles. FOLLOW LIVE.
‘Chaos’: 23-second horror show rocks NRL
The opening moments of the NRL semi-final between the Roosters and Sea Eagles have stunned after two players were forced from the field.