Other Clubs in 2026

[Gippsy]

I doubt Deano would challenge Flanno on too much. The way they dressed last game, and the way Deano spoke to the players at half time with Flanno in the background, indicates to me that Deano is doing what he feels needs to be done to takeover as HC.

 

[Dragon David]

The Storm now 0-5. Has Bellamy lost his touch or doesn't the Storm have the cattle or is it both?

 

[George Sancti]

Manly look the real deal under Foran. A recent player retiree, Foran knows what is needed to win games, the types of players needed etc. He has a brilliant footy mind. He will end up Head Coach after this interim year at Manly in my opinion. If not, he could be in demand for sure with other clubs.

It’s rare for a young coach to arrive and have immediate success, as we’re seeing with Foran. His progress will be worth following, and we’ll see whether Manly continue to improve under his guidance. I’m reminded of an interview with Wayne Bennett where he described himself first and foremost as a teacher. The great coaches, Bennett especially, seem able to teach players how to do something, rather than simply instructing them what to do. Foran may prove to be a young coach who adopts a similar philosophy.

 

[RufusRex]

The Storm now 0-5. Has Bellamy lost his touch or doesn't the Storm have the cattle or is it both?

a pretty substantial turnover in players with Paps/NAS/Tui/Katoa/Anderson esp the forwards ...
Melbourne still feel like a team that could do a panthers from last year who also lost 5 in a row early

 

[TheRev]

its also how brutally hard this competition is... like every NRL match is brutal unless a team doesnt show up... even the soft teams are good now, aka Knights, Tigers etc.. Titans will get there imo.

In our case though its not so much the wins and losses.. its everything around juniors, selections, recruitment, gameplan that I blade Flanno for.. feel like hes doing damage off the field.

 

[Ryan]

Melbourne's plight might take a bit of the focus off Flanno.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Tigers hit gold with that triple Fainu signing 2 years ago

I remember it at the time thinking manly are f*cking mad, one of the many poor decisions which has manly’s roster so out of whack

 

[Frank Facer]

I rate Melbourne as having the best spine in the comp. I also rate Bellamy one of not the best coach in the comp. There 5 game losing streak is quite unbelievable.

 

[kogarahwarrior]

It’s rare for a young coach to arrive and have immediate success, as we’re seeing with Foran. His progress will be worth following, and we’ll see whether Manly continue to improve under his guidance. I’m reminded of an interview with Wayne Bennett where he described himself first and foremost as a teacher. The great coaches, Bennett especially, seem able to teach players how to do something, rather than simply instructing them what to do. Foran may prove to be a young coach who adopts a similar philosophy.

I actually wonder how much of it is Foran's coaching, or the Manly players feeling like they have a weight taken off their shoulders.

With Seibold's career hanging in the balance, they would've felt the pressure every game to be conservative, not to throw it around too much or do anything 'stupid'. However, now that Seibold is sacked, they obviously have more freedom with nothing really to play for. That's just my theory, though. Not trying to discount Foz at all. Maybe he's a great coach. I mean, for starters, I noticed that he's made sure Haumole and Koula get more ball. Idk how that wasn't obvious before.

 

[George Sancti]

I actually wonder how much of it is Foran's coaching, or the Manly players feeling like they have a weight taken off their shoulders.

With Seibold's career hanging in the balance, they would've felt the pressure every game to be conservative, not to throw it around too much or do anything 'stupid'. However, now that Seibold is sacked, they obviously have more freedom with nothing really to play for. That's just my theory, though. Not trying to discount Foz at all. Maybe he's a great coach. I mean, for starters, I noticed that he's made sure Haumole and Koula get more ball. Idk how that wasn't obvious before.

Good point kogarahwarrior. Whilst Foran seems to be delivering, the pressure on the former coach must have impacted the players to some extent. Even if the players felt that Siebold was not the best coach, they wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for his demise. There may be parallels with our club too, sustained pressure on the coach filtering through to the playing group.