Manly coach Trent Barrett meets with Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn to discuss two-year extension
THIS was the high-powered meeting Manly hoped would keep rival raiders away from in-demand Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett.
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THIS was the high-powered meeting Manly hoped would keep rival raiders away from in-demand coach Trent Barrett.
The Daily Telegraph was on-the-spot when Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn held vital contract talks with Barrett in North Sydney on Monday morning.
Barrett’s adviser, Wayne Beavis, was also present to discuss a possible two-year contract extension. However, no deal could be reached.
Penn described the meeting as “positive”, although Beavis wasn’t so optimistic.
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“We’re getting closer — it’s a process. But we’ll get there. Positive discussions,” Penn said.
Beavis was hopeful without being overly confident a deal would be struck to extend Barrett’s tenure beyond 2018.
“There are contingency plans, of course. The deal has got to be right. You’re never confident until the ink is on the paper,” Beavis said.
Pressed on whether a contract could be nailed down soon, Beavis said: “It’s up to them. We’ve done everything we can do. We’ll see what happens.”
The meeting took place inside Penn’s North Sydney offices after the Manly co-owner grabbed coffee with Barrett and Beavis.
Manly hope to announce the retention of Barrett — and possibly a new CEO following Tim Cleary’s departure — in the next six weeks.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Barrett was on a four-man shortlist for the vacant Canterbury job, which was ultimately went to Dean Pay.
And Gold Coast have a strong interest in Barrett although he is contracted to Manly for next season and the club won’t consider an early release.
Barrett guided Manly to the finals this year before losing to Penrith in controversial circumstances.
Just two years into his first NRL job, Barrett has already shown himself to be a career coach.
“The club wouldn’t be offering an extension unless we thought he had long-term potential, absolutely,” Penn said.
“There is still a bit of work on both sides in terms of reviewing. We are going through a 2018 budget process at the moment and a big part is to map out a three-year planning process. Part of the discussions were around some of that.
“We have to let that take its course as well. We’re weeks away, certainly not months away. There are still a few things on the table we need to keep talking through.”
Penn was aware of speculation rival clubs had begun to eye-off Barrett, a former NSW and Australian five-eighth.
“I’m sure there is interest in him out there,” Penn said. “We are certainly building toward positive things. We absolutely have a clear view of where we want to head.
“Trent has done a terrific job helping to rebuild the club’s culture. The club has had a massive turnover of players over the last two years and he has done a terrific job to solidify that and make sure we have the nucleus of a premiership squad for the future.
“We have a lot of younger guys who look up to Trent and want to play for him.”
Barrett isn’t the highest paid coach in the NRL and would be tempted by any rich offerings from rival clubs.
Asked would Barrett be seeking a pay increase, Penn said: “There’s certainly an upgrade in there and that’s justified.”
Manly hasn’t had a CEO since Tim Cleary left in May. Penn continues to chase down the candidate he wants to run the Sea Eagles.
“We are down to a short-list,” Penn said.
The successful candidate will come from outside the club.