, writes Fox Sports expert Ben Ikin
Ben Ikin
FOX SPORTS
July 19, 2013 7:00AM
THE year 2013 was meant to be the year when an aging Manly Sea Eagles roster would go off the boil.
Most of their players had been going hard at it for the best part of a decade, achieving much success along the way, and I like many, thought a large portion of their roster would struggle for motivation in the current season.
How wrong I was. Almost every time I've watched the Sea Eagles play this year, I've left with great admiration for their fighting and winning qualities. It seems to me that what’s been, may very well continue for a while yet.
Now Manly’s football isn't always pretty. In fact every now and then they can look a bit disorganized with and without the ball.
However, opposition teams know if you’re not going to turn up and play disciplined, mentally tough rugby league for the best part of eighty minutes against the Sea Eagles, they’ll get you over the last furlong.
A State of Origin depleted North Queensland side found out on Monday night that to beat the Sea Eagles you need to do more than just start well. The young Cowboys team opened up with some fast paced energetic footy but eventually got worn down by an experienced, relentless Manly side that ran away with the game in the last twenty minutes.
To consistently produce this kind of football, takes a certain type of work environment. So what’s been going on across the Spit Bridge that has helped create one of the NRL's most consistent and battle-hardened footy teams?
I believe it started with a coach’s commitment to hard work. When Des Hasler originally took over as the Sea Eagles coach back in 2004 you knew one thing for certain; the Sea Eagles would never be under-prepared.
Those that know of Des Hasler's playing career would be well aware of his mantra - 'performance loves preparation'. None too many trained harder than the Manly, NSW and Australian utility, and it made sense that his philosophy as a player would follow him into his coaching endeavors.
Hasler quickly introduced his own standards at Manly, then went about recruiting players that embodied them, or second to that, would strive hard to embrace them. Once he assembled a critical mass of players prepared to 'buy in' to what he wanted, the Sea Eagles were on their way.
After defaulting to what he knew best in the early years, Des Hasler continued to evolve as a coach, growing into a sharp tactical thinker and accomplished teacher. These traits, coupled with an eye for the ever-growing role of sports science in professional sport, meant Hasler became a very well rounded mentor.
Now you’re probably asking yourself, don’t most clubs have standards, train hard and embrace sports science? And the answer is yes, they do. So where do Manly win out where others might fail? The answer lies in the coach’s character.
Over my time as a player and a commentator I have come to one very simple conclusion about good coaches; there’s a part of what they do, of who they are, that they don’t even know is contributing to their success.
It’s one part good bloke and another part genuine concern for their players. I've heard it called man management, but it’s really just the intrinsic ability to connect with the young men on their roster, make them feel like they’re understood and appreciated.
What I've learnt watching and listening to Des Hasler over the years is that he would do almost anything for his players. This was most evident when Brett Stewart had to suffer through a long and very public court case.
Every time Des spoke publicly about his fullback you could see the pain he was feeling knowing one of his own was hurting so badly.
And if I could see that, you can bet his players did too.
It’s this quality in coaches that makes them more than tactics and science, makes the teams they coach more than the sum of their individual parts
Des Hasler originally, and Geoff Toovey now, have fostered, and continue to foster a culture of togetherness at Manly. They are almost united against the outside world for each other. Put simply, the Sea Eagles players don’t want to let each other down and definitely don’t want to let their coach down.
This 'side by side' mentality permeates through training and games and is the reason that whenever you watch Manly play you very rarely walk away thinking they've given anything less than their best effort.
I’m not sure if the Sea Eagles can go all the way in 2013, but one thing is for sure, any team that meets Manly along the way will have to be pretty darn good for a very long time to get the measure of the boys from the Northern Beaches.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/manly-sea-eagles-soar-thanks-to-strong-club-culture-writes-fox-sports-expert-ben-ikin/story-fn2mcuj6-1226681546136#.Ueh5jJ1-85s
Ben Ikin
FOX SPORTS
July 19, 2013 7:00AM
THE year 2013 was meant to be the year when an aging Manly Sea Eagles roster would go off the boil.
Most of their players had been going hard at it for the best part of a decade, achieving much success along the way, and I like many, thought a large portion of their roster would struggle for motivation in the current season.
How wrong I was. Almost every time I've watched the Sea Eagles play this year, I've left with great admiration for their fighting and winning qualities. It seems to me that what’s been, may very well continue for a while yet.
Now Manly’s football isn't always pretty. In fact every now and then they can look a bit disorganized with and without the ball.
However, opposition teams know if you’re not going to turn up and play disciplined, mentally tough rugby league for the best part of eighty minutes against the Sea Eagles, they’ll get you over the last furlong.
A State of Origin depleted North Queensland side found out on Monday night that to beat the Sea Eagles you need to do more than just start well. The young Cowboys team opened up with some fast paced energetic footy but eventually got worn down by an experienced, relentless Manly side that ran away with the game in the last twenty minutes.
To consistently produce this kind of football, takes a certain type of work environment. So what’s been going on across the Spit Bridge that has helped create one of the NRL's most consistent and battle-hardened footy teams?
I believe it started with a coach’s commitment to hard work. When Des Hasler originally took over as the Sea Eagles coach back in 2004 you knew one thing for certain; the Sea Eagles would never be under-prepared.
Those that know of Des Hasler's playing career would be well aware of his mantra - 'performance loves preparation'. None too many trained harder than the Manly, NSW and Australian utility, and it made sense that his philosophy as a player would follow him into his coaching endeavors.
Hasler quickly introduced his own standards at Manly, then went about recruiting players that embodied them, or second to that, would strive hard to embrace them. Once he assembled a critical mass of players prepared to 'buy in' to what he wanted, the Sea Eagles were on their way.
After defaulting to what he knew best in the early years, Des Hasler continued to evolve as a coach, growing into a sharp tactical thinker and accomplished teacher. These traits, coupled with an eye for the ever-growing role of sports science in professional sport, meant Hasler became a very well rounded mentor.
Now you’re probably asking yourself, don’t most clubs have standards, train hard and embrace sports science? And the answer is yes, they do. So where do Manly win out where others might fail? The answer lies in the coach’s character.
Over my time as a player and a commentator I have come to one very simple conclusion about good coaches; there’s a part of what they do, of who they are, that they don’t even know is contributing to their success.
It’s one part good bloke and another part genuine concern for their players. I've heard it called man management, but it’s really just the intrinsic ability to connect with the young men on their roster, make them feel like they’re understood and appreciated.
What I've learnt watching and listening to Des Hasler over the years is that he would do almost anything for his players. This was most evident when Brett Stewart had to suffer through a long and very public court case.
Every time Des spoke publicly about his fullback you could see the pain he was feeling knowing one of his own was hurting so badly.
And if I could see that, you can bet his players did too.
It’s this quality in coaches that makes them more than tactics and science, makes the teams they coach more than the sum of their individual parts
Des Hasler originally, and Geoff Toovey now, have fostered, and continue to foster a culture of togetherness at Manly. They are almost united against the outside world for each other. Put simply, the Sea Eagles players don’t want to let each other down and definitely don’t want to let their coach down.
This 'side by side' mentality permeates through training and games and is the reason that whenever you watch Manly play you very rarely walk away thinking they've given anything less than their best effort.
I’m not sure if the Sea Eagles can go all the way in 2013, but one thing is for sure, any team that meets Manly along the way will have to be pretty darn good for a very long time to get the measure of the boys from the Northern Beaches.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/manly-sea-eagles-soar-thanks-to-strong-club-culture-writes-fox-sports-expert-ben-ikin/story-fn2mcuj6-1226681546136#.Ueh5jJ1-85s