BARRETT APPEALS TO FANS
COACH Trent Barrett has urged Manly fans not to turn their back on his players as the club stares down the barrel of its worst season of average crowd figures at Brookvale in more than 50 years.
Manly fans were again given no clarity on Barrett’s future yesterday as the coach apologised for being told by the club not to speak on the matter for legal reasons.
The Sea Eagles play their last home game of 2018 against the Gold Coast tonight.
They pulled crowds of just 4189 and 5715 in their only two home matches in that timeslot over the past two years. In fairness, it rained on both evenings.
But the Sea Eagles’ average crowd this year at their traditional base of Brookvale is just 8880 – on track to be their lowest at the ground since 1966, excluding the Northern Eagles’ three years.
Barrett conceded fans were frustrated by the uncertainty at Manly but urged them to turn out in numbers for his players after two straight wins.
“It’s not the players’ fault and you’ve got some players in there who are extremely passionate about the club,” he said. “I’d certainly hate for anyone to turn on the team in the dressing sheds... there are some terrific young players in there and our only right of reply is to come out and win tomorrow night.”
In a topsy-turvy season, Manly has beaten top-eight sides Melbourne, Brisbane, Cronulla and Penrith.
Asked if he’d handed in his resignation with two years left on his contract, Barrett said he hadn’t but indicated he was negotiating with the club and said the ball was in his hands when it came to his future.
“But out of respect for the club I don’t want to sit here and say too much today. I have been told by the club that with the legalities around it all I won’t be commenting on that today,” he said.
“You’d have to ask (chief executive) Lyall (Gorman) and the club (why nothing can be confirmed). I apologise. It’s out of my hands, to be honest.”