NRL news: New Manly era begins as Shane Flanagan, Jim Dymock take reins ahead of Anthony Seibold arrival
Tom Trbojevic has delivered the news most fans wanted to hear on same day the Sea Eagles formally moved on from Des Hasler with the club’s high-profile assistants taking the reins for training.
Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic has declared himself fit, ready and committed to start the 2023 season — a revelation coming on the same day as Manly formally moved on from the Des Hasler era.
News Corp captured these exclusive images of Trbojevic attending day one of Manly’s off-season training at the club’s Narrabeen headquarters along with new assistant coaches Shane Flanagan and Jim Dymock.
Trbojevic and brother Jake endured a challenging off-season with their manager, Paul Sutton, just last month claiming the pair felt the club was “imploding” after Hasler was sacked and how the “conflict and internal rumblings” had “taken a toll.”
There were even suggestions Tom could seek a release.
Manly fans were deeply relieved when Trbojevic returned to Manly training on Monday morning and met up with Flanagan and Dymock.
And the news improved further with Trbojevic revealing he had fully recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in May and would be available for round one against Canterbury on March 4.
Trbojevic told teammates he would “be there” to start next season and “could play in a month if there were games.”
Dymock and Flanagan arrived for training around 7am on Monday to start mending a broken club.
The pair will take over off-season training with head coach Anthony Seibold still in Britain helping with coach Eddie Jones’ English rugby union side. It is understood Seibold held a Zoom meeting with Manly players around 9am.
Manly has endured a horror few months with the pride jersey fiasco all but ending their season, Hasler being sacked and speculation about the Trbojevic brothers. The first steps to rebuilding the club began on Monday.
Full time squad members not competing in the World Cup returned to training, including Trbojevic, Lachlan Croker, Reuben Garrick, Josh Schuster, Morgan Harper and Brad Parker.
Seibold will take charge on November 29.
Players also held a team meeting where they met the new staff members before completing a weights session and light fitness work.
Just last week, Dymock spoke about Manly’s looming season.
“Manly has some great players and a good spine. Tommy Trbojevic, ‘DCE’ (Daly Cherry-Evans) and ‘Jakey’ (Jake Trbojevic). He is the glue that keeps it all together. I’ve got a big wrap on Jake,” he said.
“The club is used to being around the finals all the time. They’re not used to not taking part in the semis. Hopefully missing out this year hurts them and we come back bigger and stronger next year.”
Flanagan told The Sunday Telegraph: “I’ll start on Monday and get things running the way he (Seibold) wants it. I’ll put my style on it as well.”
Manly will train up until Christmas before having a break and returning on January 3. The Sydney Roosters and Newcastle also started training for next season on Monday.
Souths, Warriors, Dolphins, Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra, Brisbane, Canterbury, North Queensland, Cronulla, Gold Coast and Canberra have already started off-season training.
Melbourne’s full squad is back next Monday, Penrith will return to training on November 28 while the majority of Parramatta’s squad will begin training on December 7.
FLANAGAN’S PLAN TO HELP FIX FRACTURED MANLY TEAM
By Phil Rothfield
Shane Flanagan says one of his NRL coaching strengths is being able to unite a playing group.
Just what the Manly Sea Eagles desperately need right now.
The 2016 Cronulla Sharks premiership-winning coach is speaking for the first time since his appointment as understudy to Anthony Seibold.
Manly’s tumultuous 2022 season with the pride-jersey fiasco fractured the club.
“One of my strengths is getting a group to come together,” Flanagan said.
“We’ve got to come together as a club with one focus which is to win footy games.
“Enjoy training, enjoy being around each other. That will bring wins. Footy is not that complicated but you’ve got to be happy.”
On Monday morning, Flanagan will arrive at Manly’s Narrabeen headquarters for his first shift.
Seibold – still in the UK with the England rugby union team – will open the session via Zoom. Then Flanagan takes over with Jim Dymock until Seibold arrives home in early December.
He said he would be implementing Seibold’s plan but adding his own touches.
“Seibs told me when he first rang that he wanted a first-grade coach working alongside him,” Flanagan said.
“He said he wanted me to think like a first-grade coach, be like a first-grade coach and the club will be a better place for it.
“That was encouraging. He was really positive and he obviously thinks I can help him and the players.
“I’ll start on Monday and get things running the way he wants it. I’ll put my style on it as well.”
Flanagan said there were huge similarities to the Sharks.
“A community-based footy team, passionate and proud supporters and the local suburban ground,” Flanagan said.
“It’s why I’ve always admired Manly from a distance.
“It’s super exciting. The two Trbojevic boys, Daly Cherry-Evans, Haumole Olakau’atu and a heap of other good players. There’s a lot of strike and strength across the whole team.
“I don’t think Seibs wants to look back at what’s previously happened. We’re going to start fresh and do it our way.
“We’ve both got a good picture of what we want it to look like. We’ll get cracking on Monday.”
Flanagan signed a three-year deal with Manly but has a get-out clause to take on an NRL head-coaching job at the end of each season. He will also retain his roles in the media.
“Manly were really good about it,” he said.
“I’ll still work for Fox Sports and 2GB when it doesn’t clash with Manly.
“It’s something I really enjoy and want to keep doing.”
This is Flanagan’s first major opportunity since returning from a suspension.
“I’ve made some mistakes but you’ve got to move on and learn,” he said.
“I know I can coach. Every year at the Sharks, bar one, we made the semis and then won the comp. I think I helped turn them into a hard-nosed footy club.
“They’re tough and they’re ruthless.
“That’s the aim at Manly and there’s nothing stopping them.”
His own future as a head coach can wait.
“The more success we have at Manly will open doors,” Flanagan said.
“That’s the goal – to be a head coach – but to help Manly before anything else.”
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