John Cartwright on verge of being announced as Manly Sea Eagles coach
JOHN Cartwright is set to end his four year coaching exile by taking charge of the turbulent Manly club in what is the first piece of the coaching puzzle complete.
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JOHN Cartwright is set to end his four year coaching exile by taking charge of the turbulent Manly club in what is the first piece of the coaching puzzle complete.
Cartwright, who is the current assistant coach to Trent Barrett at Manly, is on the verge of being appointed Barrett’s successor following the nasty split between the current coach and the Manly’s executive team.
The Sea Eagles had considered Neil Henry, Michael Maguire and Tim Sheens for the role but are set to appoint Cartwright which is the first spot to be filled in what is expected to be a turbulent few weeks regarding coaching uncertainty.
Cartwright recently extended his assistant coaching stint at the club by another two seasons having joined to work alongside Barrett when he was first promoted to the head coach role in 2016 but could be announced in the top role as early as this week.
There was a player push to appoint Cartwright as Barrett’s successor.
“I’m not sure if anyone internally is going to put in their application but, if that was the case, I’m certainly really happy with the people we have there right now,” skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said on Fox Sports’ League Life last week.
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“John Cartwright’s an assistant and we’ve got a good up and coming young coach in Chad Randall so, look, if those guys were to get the big opportunity, I’d certainly back it.”
Cartwright has not had a head coach position since he left the Titans midway through the 2014 season. He had mixed success during his eight year stint as the Titans inaugural coach, reaching the finals in 2009 and 2010 followed by a wooden spoon in 2011.
Manly officials have rejected calls to appoint a person with Sea Eagles DNA which would have meant bringing either Geoff Toovey or Des Hasler to the club.
Barrett will coach his last game for the Sea Eagles when they travel to Brisbane on Sunday night.
But he remains locked in a legal stoush with his club as Barrett is seeking compensation despite walking away from the final two years of his contract.
Penrith are yet to replace Anthony Griffin with the spotlight on Tigers coach Ivan Cleary’s future expected to reignite following his side’s final regular season game against South Sydney tonight.
Cleary has committed his future to the Tigers.
Originally published as John Cartwright on verge of being announced as Manly Sea Eagles coach
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