DES’ RAG-TAG REJECTS
How Manly cobbled together a side that’s surging up ladder
THEY were so unheralded and unwanted even the Titans didn’t want them.
Meet Manly’s Des-perados, a bunch of unknowns and outcasts driving the Sea Eagles’ unlikely charge up the NRL premiership ladder.
Former Titans players Brendan Elliot, Kane Elgey and Morgan Boyle are among this mishmash Manly side, who get the chance to show their former club what they let go when they face off on Friday night.
The Sea Eagles were tipped to battle it out for the club’s first ever wooden spoon this season, but instead they are fifth on the competition with six deserved wins.
Driven by the likes of Brad Parker, Jack Gosiewski, Lachlan Croker, Reuben Garrick, Corey Waddell, Cade Cust, Moses Suli, Abbas Miski, Manase Fainu, Kelepi Tanginoa and Toafofoa Sipley, this patchwork team, put together by Scott Fulton, son of Immortal Bob, has beaten top-four sides South Sydney and Canberra, to go with last weekend’s upset victory over the Sharks in Cronulla.
Gold Coast didn’t offer Elliot a new deal, while Elgey was told to look elsewhere. Boyle was dumped after this season started and signed with Manly last month.
Their loss has been Manly’s gain.
“For me there is no beef at all,” Elgey said. “I am really excited to play my mates. It will be good.”
Des Hasler has done a remarkable job cobbling together a mixed collection, all while Manly exist without stars Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans. Suspended Dylan Walker only returned last week.
Sipley has a season-ending knee injury and Tanginoa will end up at Wakefield in England, but both have played a role this season.
Fulton, Manly’s recruitment officer, signed many of the current squad with Hasler and club head of recruitment Noel Cleal only arriving back at Brookvale this year.
“They are certainly a team on the rise,” Fulton said.
“It has all come off. At the start, you never know how it’s going to play out. But everything has come to fruition.
“We have had a lot of success in transitioning and plucking players from other clubs. Des has got them going really well. We have a lesser squad this year because Shaun Lane and Brian Kelly have gone but Des has shown faith in the young blokes.
“We always knew they could play and the results are showing.”