NRL 2024: Host of Manly Sea Eagles legends shaping the club’s next generation

Sea Eagles legend Anthony Watmough has returned to Manly, joining several old teammates and Brookvale legends in a move to safeguard the club’s next generation. See which greats are back at Brookie.

Geoff Toovey. Picture: Brett Costello

They’re getting the band back together at Brookie.

Sea Eagles legend Anthony Watmough has returned to the club after being named head coach of the new Manly Leagues side to contest the 2024 Sydney Shield.

Watmough joins former Sea Eagles players Brett Stewart, Geoff Toovey, Matt Orford, Jamie Buhrer, Solomon Haumono and David O’Donnell as members of the club’s junior representative and development teams for 2024.

Stewart is an assistant coach for the SG Ball side, Toovey is the Manly’s junior pathways coaching co-ordinator, Orford is Manly’s under 16s development coach with Buhrer his assistant, while Haumono is assistant coach of Manly’s Lisa Fiaola team.

Former hooker O’Donnell is club pathways and women’s program manager.

Manly’s Harold Matthews side will be coached by Jordan Meredith, son for former club stalwart, Martin, The assistant coach will Brook Eadie with Todd Eadie the team manager – both are sons of four-time grand final-winning Manly legend, Graham Eadie.

Former Manly forward Mark Bryant is now working in part-time with the Golden Eagles old boys while also assisting the club’s commercial team.

Watmough was originally appointed assistant coach and trainer for the Sydney Shield but has now assumed the top job.

“I didn’t even think about becoming a coach for a second, to be honest with you,” he told Manly media.

“I came in to help run the water. Just spending three days a week with this group of players and seeing them grow as people and footy players, it sort of started to take on its own momentum.

“With the bond there with the boys, there was an opportunity for me to take on the coaching job, so I accepted.”

Manly CEO Tony Mestrov was thrilled to have lured so many former players back to the club.

“It is tremendous to see these former players, many of who know what it takes to win a premiership, return to the Sea Eagles to help develop our next generation of male and female players,” Mestrov said.

Anthony Watmough at Narrabeen. Picture: Manly Media

Brett Stewart is back at Brookie. Picture: Tim Allsop/Getty Images

Geoff Toovey is Manly’s junior pathways coaching co-ordinator. Picture: Brett Costello

“The knowledge and the passion they have cannot be replicated and it will be of enormous benefit to our younger players and our club culture.”

Watmough added: “I believe Manly’s culture and DNA can never be rewritten. It is what it is. A lot of other clubs seems to have former players on staff.

“It seems like now the club is slowly getting back the culture and keeping the DNA within the club in some way. Other clubs do it better than some, but it is good that we are slowly getting there.”

The Sydney Shield is the NSWRL’s fourth tier men’s competition, feeding into the Ron Massey Cup.

It is the first time Manly has fielded a side in the Sydney Shield, which kicks off in March.

The team, known as Manly League, will be supported by the Leagues Club, Manly Warringah Rugby League Football Club, Manly Warringah Junior Rugby League and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Host of Manly Sea Eagles legends shaping the club’s next generation