Former Manly chief Max Delmege has urged the current owners, the Penn family, to relinquish their control to enable the Sea Eagles to rebuild and put an end to the internal strife that has plagued the club.
The Sea Eagles have endured a tumultuous period, cycling through five coaches and eight chief executives, culminating in the dismissal of Anthony Seibold last week.
Delmege played a pivotal role in rescuing the club from the brink of bankruptcy in 2002 and was at the helm when Manly claimed the 2008 grand final with a historic 40-0 victory over Melbourne.
Manly owner Scott Penn speaks to Daly Cherry-Evans in 2024. NRL Imagery
However, such glory seems far behind, as Manly remains winless this season and is actively looking for a new head coach ahead of 2027.
“I always prioritise the fans – I often stood with them on the hill – and they are hurting,” Delmege relayed to Wide World of Sports.
“I converse with numerous people in the community and see the reactions on social media – everyone is disillusioned with the club’s direction.”
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“You require unity and collaboration – only then can you win matches.
“Manly has lost that essence.
“You can’t constantly shuffle coaches and CEOs on a whim. You need to stand by them. I believe sacking Seibold after just three games of a new season was an impulsive move by the owners to deflect criticism from themselves.”
Scott Penn and Max Delmege in 2009. SMH Sport
“Some individuals possess egos that are far too large – the club ends up becoming a political game for them. They must remember that it’s a people’s game.
“If they genuinely care about Manly, they should step aside and stop viewing the club as a means to gain recognition or praise.
“The supporters are demanding change at the top – they aren’t naive – they see that the club is poorly managed.”
MANLY’S ATTEMPT TO SNARE STORM’S PONISSI LIKELY TO FAIL
In other developments regarding Manly, the club’s ambitions to secure the highly regarded Storm general manager Frank Ponissi appear destined for disappointment.
Ponissi and coach Craig Bellamy have transformed the Storm into a formidable force in Australian sport over the past twenty years, making him a valuable target for Manly.
Melbourne Storm general manager of football, Frank Ponissi. Getty
Interestingly, Ponissi is a local, having grown up in the area and started his football career at Manly.
Nevertheless, those close to Ponissi assert that there is no possibility he would abandon the well-established Storm environment for the troubled Sea Eagles.
Despite the allure of home, Ponissi is comfortably settled in Melbourne, and nothing Manly could offer would tempt him to leave.
PNG CHIEFS EYEING ORIGIN PLAYER SIGNING
The PNG Chiefs have set their sights on Roosters and NSW State of Origin utility Connor Watson as a key signing target.
With the recent hire of former Bulldogs official Liam Ayoub as their recruitment officer, the Chiefs are compiling a target list.
Connor Watson warms up before a NSW Blues State Of Origin training session. Getty
Given his vast experience in high-stakes matches and versatility, Watson would be a great addition to the Chiefs ahead of the 2028 season.
His current deal with the Roosters runs until the end of 2027, and even they might struggle to match the non-salary-cap contracts offered in PNG.
EELS OUTCAST FACES ANOTHER SETBACK
Poor Ryan Matterson just can’t catch a break.
Deemed surplus to requirements at Parramatta and grappling with concussion, it has been a tough year for the former representative forward.
Ryan Matterson. Getty
Things took a turn for the worse when Matterson was at Eels training with the injured players last week, minding his own business when a heavy kick struck him squarely on the head, leaving him disoriented and potentially delaying his comeback for a few more weeks.
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