Manly’s Toovey tipped to be gone in days
MANLY’S brave Round 20 win over the Warriors won’t save coach Geoff Toovey’s job at Brookvale with the club legend set to be shown the door this week, despite having a year left on his contract.
The Sea Eagles remain in the finals race on the back of their impressive 32- 12 over the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday against the Kiwi outfit who lost halfback Shaun Johnson in the 26th minute with a season- ending ankle injury.
Penrith assistant and Country Origin mentor Trent Barrett is expected to become the coach as early as today, with John Cartwright his assistant.
Toovey has taken Manly to a preliminary final, a grand final and a semi- final in the three seasons since he took over from Des Hasler.
But he has seemingly paid the price for his lack of support for former back- rower Glenn Stewart in his contract negotiations last year before he signed with South Sydney, and for aligning himself with the former Quantum faction at Manly before the Penn family took over in October.
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns, who is on the Manly coaching staff, said he wasn’t sure what was happening at Brookvale and whether he will be on the Sea Eagles’ books next year, amid reports 14 players will be shown the door. “I don’t know what’s going on, I haven’t spoken to anyone,” he said on Channel Nine’s Sunday Football Show.
“From the effort the players put in ( yesterday) it doesn’t look to be affecting them. I’m not there when they are socialising, but as a group at training they all seem pretty happy.”
Manly host Brisbane in Gosford on Saturday, and are set to be without Steve Matai who suffered a shoulder injury.
Ligi Sao has a possible season- ending ACL injury, while Tom Symonds and Luke Burgess ( both leg) are in doubt after the Sea Eagles finished the match against the Warriors with an empty bench.