Coast rake backs King to land job with Manly
NATHAN Peats has thrown his support behind former Titans mentor Neil Henry reigniting his NRL coaching career at Manly as the Sea Eagles look for an experienced mentor to take over from rookie coach Trent Barrett.
Barrett’s position at the Sea Eagles seems untenable after Manly chairman Scott Penn told News Corp the club was already looking for an experienced head coach to take over next season following Barrett’s reported resignation.
Henry, who was axed as Titans coach last year, fits the bill and Peats said the 57-year-old would do a “wonderful” job.
“It’s obviously disappointing how the circumstances were around him leaving here but everything happens for a reason,” Peats said.
“Garth’s doing a good job here and we’re all happy here and hopefully King (Henry) still has a love for footy and he wants to go to Manly.”
Peats and other senior players including captain Ryan James and representative players Jarrod Wallace and Kevin Proctor pleaded Henry’s case with Titans officials last year before he was axed in the wake of his fallout with superstar Jarryd Hayne.
But Peats, does not believe Henry’s passion for coaching has dimmed and hoped he could coach in the NRL again.
“If you still have the hunger for it … it’s like a player getting punted, if you get punted from a club and you still want to play, you try and get a contract somewhere,” Peats said. “So if he still has a passion to coach … then, good on him.”
Henry is being considered by the Sea Eagles, along with another former Titans coach, John Cartwright, currently Barrett’s assistant at Manly.