Manly recruit Blake Green steps back into training early for the Sea Eagles

BLAKE Green is keen to help drive Manly’s new culture as the Sea Eagles look to return to the finals after last season’s disappointment.

New Manly Sea Eagles signing Blake Green at Narrabeen Beach. Picture: Gregg Porteous

HE’S gone from the bleak weather of Melbourne to Sydney’s glorious northern beaches, but Blake Green’s move to Manly is far from a step towards retirement.

The 30-year-old Sea Eagles signing has revealed he actually turned up to preseason training a fortnight early to “help drive the club’s new culture” after a tough year.

Not due back on the paddock until this week, Green wandered into the club’s Narrabeen training headquarters in mid-November and realised he couldn’t stay away any longer.

Not if he wanted to become a leader of the Silvertails.

SEMI SAGA: Toulon boss may have done Eels a big favour

CHA-CHING: $10m gift that keeps Manly afloat

“I just thought it was important — coming to a new club, they started a few weeks earlier as a playing group,” Green said. “I didn’t want to come back and jump into week five for them when it was day one for me.

New Manly Sea Eagles signing Blake Green at Narrabeen Beach. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“If I want to be part of driving the new culture here, I need to get in there, introduce myself, be part of it early on and make sure I build myself a base so I can hit the ground running. Playing in the halves and being a senior player at the club, you have to lead by your actions so it was important to start on the right foot.”

Green is fronting another challenge after stints with Parramatta, Cronulla, Canterbury, Hull KR, Wigan and Melbourne, where he played in October’s grand final loss to Cronulla.

“I’ve had a few jumpers,” he said. “I have had a really good grounding — I got to experience some really good times at Wigan. It was the same down at the Storm. I learned a hell of a lot off some key individuals in our game and am now looking forward to being part of the rebuilding phase at Manly that Trent (Barrett, coach) and Bob (Fulton, club strategic football consultant) are doing.

“I think it’s important for me off the field to help build the culture, in terms of working hard and holding everyone accountable for their actions. On the field, Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans) needs someone to provide stability and take some pressure off him in terms of getting around the field and kicking well. To let him play his natural game, he’s a great runner of the footy, a natural football player.”

Blake Green is ready to drive Manly’s new club culture.

Green, who played a season alongside Barrett at Cronulla in 2009, loved his time in Melbourne but is relishing the warmer climes of Sydney’s northern beaches.

“I haven’t spent too much time in this part of the world but it is lovely and I am really enjoying it,” Green said. “My young family has spent some time in the sun down at the beach, it’s been great. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Melbourne, living the city lifestyle, bouncing from cafes to sporting events. It’s different from living a few metres away from the beach. I’m enjoying the change.”