Manly has decided not to interview other head coaching candidates and will instead sit down with interim boss Kieran Foran to thrash out exactly what he’d want to take on the role permanently from 2027 and beyond.
From the other side, Foran is expected to take up the role and just wants to make sure he has structures in place to rebuild the roster. He’s been eager to take up the top job from as soon as he stepped into the role in April.
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The decision will surprise very little, considering Foran has guided the club to five wins in six games and pushed them straight into the eight. Before that, Anthony Seibold earned his sacking by leading the team to a 0-3 start.
Brad Arthur, Mick Ennis, and Matt Ballin had been several candidates who were preparing to interview for the gig in the coming weeks, but they’ve now been told that they won’t get a look-in. The Sydney club will instead use the next few weeks and months to talk to Foran about details, and then recruit coaching staff to put around him in the early years.
On that front, The Sporting Base has heard Shane Flanagan and John Cartwright could come in as assistants.
Should Manly and Foran formalise the 35-year-old’s permanent signing, he will help that search.
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As for what the players want, Jake Trbojevic has already said that he thinks Foran is the man for the job. When asked about the club’s turnaround, the veteran forward said, “I can’t really explain how good it’s been these last five weeks — I’ve loved it. It’s phenomenal really, the whole community, the whole crowd gets behind him; he’s really turned us around.”
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“Everyone has really responded to him as a person and as a leader — he’s done a great job… for someone who was playing NRL last year to be head coach now is remarkable,” he added. “His competitiveness and drive as a player is really wearing off on everyone; he’s taken that into his coaching career.”
Manly next play the resurgent Wests Tigers in a mouthwatering clash on Saturday in Magic Round.
