Senior Titans player backs former coach Neil Henry for Manly job

NATHAN Peats has thrown his support behind former Titans mentor Neil Henry reigniting his NRL coaching career at Manly.

NATHAN Peats has thrown his support behind former Titans mentor Neil Henry reigniting his NRL coaching career at Manly as the Sea Eagles look for an experienced mentor to take over from rookie coach Trent Barrett.

Barrett’s position at the Sea Eagles seems untenable after Manly chairman Scott Penn told News Corp the club was already looking for an experienced head coach to take over next season following Barrett’s reported resignation.

Henry, who was axed as Titans coach late last year, fits the bill and Peats said the 57-year-old would do a “wonderful” job.

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Former Titans coach Neil Henry is reportedly among the favourites for the Sea Eagles job next season. Photo: Glenn Hampson

“It’s obviously disappointing how the circumstances were around him leaving here but everything happens for a reason,” Peats said.

“Garth’s doing a good job here and we’re all happy here and hopefully King (Henry) still has a love for footy and he wants to go to Manly.”

Peats and other senior players including captain Ryan James and representative players Jarrod Wallace and Kevin Proctor pleaded Henry’s case with Titans officials last year before he was axed in the wake of his fallout with superstar Jarryd Hayne.

But Peats, who linked with the Titans after he was pushed out of Parramatta in the wake of the salary cap scandal, does not believe Henry’s passion for coaching has dimmed and hoped he could coach in the NRL again.

“If you still have the hunger for it … it’s like a player getting punted, if you get punted from a club and you still want to play, you try and get a contract somewhere,” Peats said.

“So if he still has a passion to coach and wants to go do it, then good on him.”

Henry is being considered by the Sea Eagles, along with another former Titans coach, John Cartwright, currently Barrett’s assistant at Manly.

And with the Sea Eagles floundering outside the eight, Henry could be the perfect man for the job.

Having led Canberra, North Queensland and the Gold Coast from the NRL cellar to the finals, he is seen as an expert at rebuilding clubs and could be exactly what Manly needs.

“He’d be good for the club if he was to go there,” Peats said.

“He’s a good coach and a good fella and I’m sure if he got the job he’d do a wonderful job with it.”

Nathan Peats has backed former Titans coach Neil Henry to take over at the Sea Eagles but has bigger things on his mind, including the Gold Coast’s clash against Melbourne on Saturday. Photo: AAP

Peats has other priorities in the final weeks of the season though, looking to help the Titans to upsets over Melbourne and North Queensland to end a disappointing season on a high.

“It’s just disappointing, we’ve been inconsistent again and not had the year we would have liked,” Peats said.

“Hopefully we can finish the year off strong with two good wins and two really good efforts and give the home crowd something to cheer for and then hopefully bring it in the pre-season next year.”