2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season

February 2014 February 2014 2011 NRL 2011 NRL 1st Challenge Cup 21 0 5 613 340 CEO AUS David Perry AUS Des Hasler AUS Jamie Lyon and Jason King Brookvale Oval Brett Stewart (15) Jamie Lyon (59) Jamie Lyon (154) 2010 2012 The 2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 62nd in the club's history. Coached by Des Hasler and co-captained by Jamie Lyon and Jason King, they competed in the National Rugby League (NRL) 2011 Telstra Premiership, and finished the regular season in second place (out of 16 teams). The Sea Eagles then qualified for the NRL grand final, in which they defeated the New Zealand Warriors, claiming the club's eighth first-grade premiership. Background The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles had finished eighth in the previous season, barely qualifying for the finals series (in fact, had the Melbourne Storm not been heavily penalised for their salary cap breach, Manly would have actually missed the finals). They were defeated by the St George Illawarra Dragons in a qualifying final; the Dragons subsequently won the premiership. Manly lost four first-team players at the end of the season: first-choice halfback Trent Hodkinson, forwards Chris Bailey and Josh Perry, and utility back Ben Farrar. Joining the club were the unheralded Tim Robinson, Liam Foran and Daniel Harrison. Between them, only Foran had first-grade experience.https://www.foxsports.com.au/league/des-hasler-isnt-saying-whether-brett-stewart-will-get-game-time-for-manly-against-the-warriors/story-e6frf3ou-1226012413933 Des Hasler isn't saying whether Brett Stewart will get game time for Manly against the Warriors Otto Tyson 26 February 2011 Fox Sports 11 November 2011 However, Manly's squad was boosted by the return of star fullback Brett Stewart. After Manly had won the NRL premiership in 2008, Stewart missed all but six matches of the following two seasons with knee injuries and legal issues.https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/its-been-a-long-road-but-stewart-is-back-where-he-belongs-20110320-1c2bw.html?skin=text-only It's been a long road, but Stewart is back where he belongs Walter Brad 21 March 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 24 September 2011 Manly's season would also see the emergence of key youngsters such as Queensland born halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, who would win the NRL's Dally M Rookie of the Year award, the continued rise of New Zealand born five-eighth Kieran Foran,http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/rookie-revs-up-with-another-daly-m-performance/story-e6frfgbo-1226144990261 Rookie revs up with another Daly M performance Phelps James 23 September 2011 Herald Sun 24 September 2011 and winger Will Hopoate, son of Manly's 1996 premiership-winner John Hopoate, who would debut for New South Wales in the 2011 State of Origin series.https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/hopoate-dreams-of-finals-glory-as-sabbatical-looms-20110911-1k4ct.html Hopoate dreams of finals glory as sabbatical looms Chammas Michael 12 September 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 24 September 2011 Season Regular season In New Zealand, each of the Sea Eagles matches of the 2011 season were televised free-to-air by Māori Television on Monday nights, dubbed "Manly Night Football". Manly opened their season with an 18–6 loss to the Melbourne Storm, their grand final opponents from 2007 and 2008. Daly Cherry-Evans made his first-grade debut as Manly's starting halfback, but was penalised for a "foot fault" when kicking a line dropout.https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/storms-new-start-ends-well-20110312-1bsdb.html?skin=text-only Storm's new start ends well Hinds Richard 13 March 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 11 November 2011 The following week, Manly played the grand finalists from the previous season, the Sydney Roosters, without co-captains Jamie Lyon and Jason King, and Glenn Stewart and Steve Matai. Despite the losses of key players, the Sea Eagles scored their first win of the season, 27–16, thanks to performances from Cherry-Evans and his halves partner Kieran Foran that the ABC described as "outstanding".https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-20/gutsy-sea-eagles-shock-roosters/2651540 Gutsy Sea Eagles shock Roosters 20 March 2011 ABC News 11 November 2011 Manly won again the following weekend, defeating the Newcastle Knights 26–12. It was Manly's first match of the season at their home ground, Brookvale Oval. An aggressive physical performance from the Sea Eagles saw the Knights reduced to just 13 fit players by the second half, enough to put a full team on the field but with an empty substitutes bench.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-27/manly-beats-up-depleted-knights/2642548 Manly beats up depleted Knights 27 March 2011 ABC News 11 November 2011 April started badly for the Sea Eagles, losing 32–30 to the South Sydney Rabbitohs,https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/south-sydney-almost-blows-it-against-manly/news-story/d9e7a1ddc652d10ab73f7f761dcd8e4b South Sydney almost blows it against Manly Read Brent 2 April 2011 The Australian subscription 11 November 2011 and suspending two players—long-serving club veteran Anthony Watmough and squad player Terence Seu Seu—after they were arrested by police and fined for public urination.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/sea-eagles-anthony-watmough-and-terence-seu-seu-suspended-fined/news-story/e4fd3538e3ecead50df728f84607cab2 Sea Eagles Anthony Watmough and Terence Seu Seu suspended, fined 4 April 2011 The Australian subscription 11 November 2011 The following weekend, Manly bounced back with a victory over the Cronulla Sharks in Cronulla, the win being sealed with a try to rookie winger Michael Oldfield in the final seconds of the match.http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sharks-lead-manly-7-0-at-halftime/story-e6frfgbo-1226036592747 NRL Sea Eagles on a wing and a prayer Hooper James 9 April 2011 Herald Sun 11 November 2011 The team then took their record to five wins from seven matches, defeating the New Zealand Warriors at Brookvale,http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/warriors-dazzled-sea-eagles-4126102 Warriors dazzled by Sea Eagles 16 April 2011 TVNZ 11 November 2011 then the Penrith Panthers in Penrith,http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/22/3198888.htm?site=sport&section=all https://archive.today/20120717062351/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/22/3198888.htm?site=sport&section=all dead 17 July 2012 Sea Eagles ease past Panthers 22 April 2011 ABC News 11 November 2011 before their winning streak came to an end with a narrow loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4947274/Cowboys-hold-off-fast-finishing-Sea-Eagles Cowboys hold off fast-finishing Sea Eagles Butterworth Liam 30 April 2011 Stuff.co.nz 11 November 2011 The defeat to the Cowboys came in controversial circumstances. Jamie Lyon was denied a try by the video referee that may have won Manly the match; later, the video referee was removed from duties for the following round after officials considered his decision to have been in error.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/02/3205754.htm?site=sydney https://archive.today/20120721054632/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/02/3205754.htm?site=sydney dead 21 July 2012 Video ref dumped after Manly blunder 2 May 2011 ABC News 11 November 2011 Manly started the month of May with a home win over the lowly Canberra Raiders in which Brett Stewart scored his 99th, 100th and 101st tries for the Sea Eagles.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-09/stewart-101-teaches-raiders-a-lesson/2706100?section=justin Stewart 101 teaches Raiders a lesson Maasdorp James 10 May 2011 ABC News 11 November 2011 It was the first in a six-match winning streak, as Manly then defeated the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Canterbury, North Queensland and arch-rivals Parramatta. The run of wins took the team to second on the NRL ladder.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5169124/Sea-Eagles-down-Eels-in-thriller Sea Eagles down Parramatta Eels in thriller 20 June 2011 Stuff.co.nz 11 November 2011 It also helped Manly's players with representative ambitions. Four Sea Eagles featured in the mid-season State of Origin series: Jason King, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, and, at the age of 19, William Hopoate, who scored a try in his first match for New South Wales and followed his father John in playing for both Manly and his state.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/will-hopoate-to-miss-state-of-origin-decider-/news-story/9333a3578981a50aa288e448f4176170 Will Hopoate to miss State of Origin decider Read Brent McDonald, Margie 16 June 2011 The Australian subscription 11 November 2011 At the time, Hopoate announced that he would be leaving professional football at the end of the season to embark on a two-year mormon mission.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5107280/No-regrets-for-mormon-to-be-Hopoate No regrets for mormon-to-be Will Hopoate Jackson Glenn 7 June 2011 Stuff.co.nz 11 November 2011 Manly's winning streak came to an end in late June, when the team was defeated by the reigning premiers St George Illawarra.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/jamie-soward-limping-after-dragons-thump-manly-in-wollongong/news-story/86a88b5fa6dd93bb67bca6bc039f94f1 Jamie Soward limping after Dragons thump Manly in Wollongong 27 June 2011 The Australian subscription 11 November 2011 The match was played a week after the death of the well-known former Manly player turned commentator Rex Mossop.http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sea-eagles-legend-rex-mossop-dies/ Sea Eagles legend Rex Mossop dies 20 June 2011 Manly Daily 11 November 2011 Manly returned to winning form quickly, defeating South Sydney in their next match,http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/foran-inspires-manly-to-win-over-souths-20110710-1h8mg.html Foran inspires Manly to win over Souths Horne Ben 10 July 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 11 November 2011 before thrashing Newcastle, 32–10,http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5298726/Manly-romp-home-over-Knights Manly Sea Eagles romp home over Knights Horne Ben 17 July 2011 Stuff.co.nz 11 November 2011 and defeating Penrith, 12–8.http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/manly-edge-panthers-4321597 Manly edge out Panthers 24 July 2011 TVNZ 11 November 2011 A defeat to the Wests Tigers followed, in a home game that Manly decided to play at Gosford's Central Coast Stadium.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/benji-marshall-brilliance-helps-give-sea-eagles-the-flick/news-story/6cd600c1cd6d2ec849144c07568cfa64 Benji Marshall brilliance helps give Sea Eagles the flick Read Brent 30 July 2011 The Australian 2011-07-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20110730001241/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/benji-marshall-brilliance-helps-give-sea-eagles-the-flick/story-e6frg7mf-1226104643695 subscription live 11 November 2011 Manly responded to the defeat to the Tigers with another winning streak, beating the Sydney Roosters, the Parramatta Eels and the Canterbury Bulldogs in successive weeks. The cost to Manly was an injury to their co-captain Jason King in the Roosters match. He would miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-08/sea-eagles-lose-king-for-season/2829614 Sea Eagles lose King for season 8 August 2011 ABC News 11 November 2011 King's loss was only the start of things to come for Manly. On Friday, 26 August 2011, Manly hosted the Melbourne Storm at Brookvale Oval for the penultimate match of the regular season. Melbourne was then on top of the NRL ladder and looking to secure the minor premiership; Manly was in second place. The two clubs had been rivals since they played 2007 and 2008 grand finals, winning one apiece. The one thing that united the club's fans was a mutual dislike for the NRL's chief executive David Gallop. Gallop had decided to strip Melbourne of its 2007 and 2009 premierships for salary cap breaches. He had also angered Manly by suspending Brett Stewart in 2009 for his behaviour at an official event; Stewart was charged with, and subsequently acquitted of, committing rape after the event. Gallop decided to attend the Friday night match, in front of a packed Brookvale Oval crowd of 20,059, leaving Manly to consider hiring security guards to protect him.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/security-for-david--gallop-at-brookvale/news-story/5c1197eec078da5c09f08a08f769762b Security for David Gallop at Brookvale Honeysett Stuart 24 August 2011 The Australian 2011-08-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20110824181917/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/security-for-david-gallop-at-brookvale/story-e6frg7mf-1226120765776 subscription live 11 November 2011 The match that ensued earned the name "The Battle of Brookvale". In the first half of the match, a skirmish broke out between Manly's Darcy Lussick and Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe. A number of players joined the brawl, including Manly's Glenn Stewart and Melbourne's Adam Blair, who the referee decided to send to the sin bin. As Stewart and Blair left the field for their ten minutes on the sidelines, a fight broke out between them. A series of Manly and Melbourne players ran from the field and the sideline benches to join the fight, giving rise to a large brawl in front of Brookvale Oval's main stand. Stewart and Blair were both sent off for the remainder of the match, which Manly went on to win.https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/battle-of-brookie-set-to-take-toll-on-big-guns-title-assault-20110826-1jeto.html Battle of Brookie set to take toll on big guns' title assault Jackson Glenn 27 August 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 11 November 2011 Manly suffered four suspensions arising from the match: Stewart and Lussick were suspended for three weeks each as the brawls' principal protagonists, while Foran and Stewart's brother Brett received lesser suspensions for their parts in the melee. Each club was fined $50,000 by the NRL. Gallop said after the match: "The sight of so many players from both teams fighting, of people running in and leaving the bench area, was an horrendous look for the game."http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/live-stream-nrl-boss-david-gallop-delivers-his-verdict-on-friday-nights-battle-of-brookvale-between-manly-and-storm/story-e6frexnr-1226124470466 Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm fined $50,000 each and 10 players charged by NRL judiciary after 'Battle of Brookie' Ritchie Dean 29 August 2011 The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 11 November 2011 The fallout from the match also claimed the scalp of Manly's long-serving media manager and former player Peter Peters, who was stood down and then sacked for making a sexist comment to a female reporter when leaving an NRL judiciary hearing for Glenn Stewart.https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/934615/after-sexist-comment-peters-to-leave-manly/ After sexist comment, Peters to leave Manly Walter Brad 5 September 2011 Newcastle Herald 11 November 2011 Meanwhile, Manly winger David Williams suffered a neck injury in the match that would end his season.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10747888 NRL: Neck injury ends Williams' season 29 August 2011 New Zealand Herald 11 November 2011 Manly thus fielded a depleted side for their final regular season match against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Even though the Broncos won 18–10, Manly had already secured second place on the NRL ladder behind Melbourne; the Broncos finished third.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-04/lockyers-troops-hold-off-manly/2869950 Lockyer's troops hold off Manly 4 September 2011 ABC News 12 November 2011 Ladder Finals series 2011 NRL season results#Finals 2011 NRL season results - Finals series left|thumb|Manly forward Tony Williams catches the ball in the preliminary final against the Brisbane Broncos. Finishing second on the ladder gave Manly the comfort of knowing that they would not be eliminated from the finals series if they lost their opening match, and that if they won, they would move straight into the series' third and final week. Their opponents in the qualifying final were the North Queensland Cowboys. Manly were disappointed that their right to a "home final" could not be exercised at Brookvale Oval, where they had been undefeated during the regular season. The NRL forced Manly to play the match at the Sydney Football Stadium, in front of a crowd of only 13,972. Nonetheless, despite trailing the Cowboys at half-time, Manly scored 42 points in the second half to win 42–8.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-10/slick-sea-eagles-dump-cowboys/2880016 Slick Sea Eagles dump Cowboys 11 September 2011 ABC News 12 November 2011 Defeating the Cowboys put Manly one win away from the NRL grand final. Their opponents in the preliminary final would be the Brisbane Broncos, who had defeated them three weeks earlier. Much of the focus in the week leading up to the match was on whether Darren Lockyer, Brisbane's retiring captain and 355-game veteran, would play after fracturing his cheekbone in the second week of the finals. Lockyer was initially named in the Brisbane team, but withdrew from the match late in the week. Lockyer's withdrawal made Manly the firm favourites,http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5666106/Extra-week-won-t-make-difference-for-Lockyer Extra week won't make difference for Lockyer Prichard Greg 22 September 2011 TVNZ 12 November 2011 and they won 26–14.http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/manly-into-grand-final-4417762 Manly into grand final 24 September 2011 TVNZ 12 November 2011 Grand final 2011 NRL grand final #eeeeee Sunday 2 October 5:00PM AEST Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly 16 24 – 10 http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2011/grand-final/manly-warringah-vs-warriors/summary.html 2011 NRL Grand Final - Manly-Warringah vs New Zealand Warriors 17 May 2017 2 November 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171102010011/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2011/grand-final/manly-warringah-vs-warriors/summary.html dead New Zealand 16 New Zealand Warriors Tries: Brett Stewart Daly Cherry-Evans Glenn Stewart Jamie Lyon Goals: Jamie Lyon (3/3) Michael Robertson (1/1) Tries: Manu Vatuvei Elijah Taylor Goals: James Maloney (1/3) ANZ Stadium, Sydney 81,988 Matt Cecchin, Tony Archer Glenn Stewart Manly 16 _manly _2whitestripes 800000 800000 800000 FFFFFF 800000 Manly-Warringah _odd17h _band_black FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF New Zealand FB 1Brett StewartLW 2Michael RobertsonRC 3Jamie Lyon (c)LC 4Steve MataiRW 5William HopoateFE 6Kieran ForanHB 7Daly Cherry-EvansPR 8Joe GaluvaoHK 9Matt BallinPR 10Brent KiteSR 11Anthony WatmoughSR 12Tony WilliamsLK 13Glenn StewartSubstitutions:IC 14Shane RodneyIC 15Jamie BuhrerIC 16Vic MauroIC 17George RoseCoach:AUS Des Hasler FB 1Kevin LockeRW 2Bill TupouRC 3Lewis BrownLC 4Krisnan InuLW 5Manu VatuveiFE 6James MaloneyHB 7Shaun JohnsonPR 8Russell PackerHK 9Lance HohaiaPR 10Jacob LillymanSR 11Elijah TaylorSR 12Simon Mannering (c)LK 13Micheal LuckSubstitutions:IC 14Sam RapiraIC 15Aaron HeremaiaIC 16Feleti MateoIC 17Ben MatulinoCoach:AUS Ivan Cleary Manly's opponents for the grand final, held at Stadium Australia on 2 October, were the New Zealand Warriors, who had finished sixth on the NRL ladder. The Warriors had pulled off a major upset when they defeated the minor premiers Melbourne Storm 20–12 in the second qualifying final in Melbourne, ruining the chances of a "Battle of Brookvale" grand final re-match.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5679278/Warriors-into-second-NRL-grand-final Warriors into second NRL grand final Lawton Aaron 24 September 2011 Stuff.co.nz 12 November 2011 The Warriors were playing in their second first-grade grand final; it was Manly's 18th. Manly would also become the first club to play in grand finals in seven consecutive decades. Reflecting on this record, rugby league historian David Middleton said leading up to the match: "No other club has done what they have, it's a unique achievement."https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/secret-to-manlys-decades-of-success/news-story/d1822c5cf50809de44fe8dae89e634b3 Secret to Manly's decades of success Honeysett Stuart 1 October 2011 The Australian 2011-09-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20110930152616/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/secret-to-manlys-decades-of-success/story-e6frg7mf-1226154450307 subscription live 12 November 2011 Manly fielded a near full strength team for the grand final. Ten of its 17-man squad had previous grand final experience. Glenn Stewart returned from his "Battle of Brookvale" suspension, while 2008 premiership winners Jason King and David Williams were the only players missing through injury. While the grand final was held in Sydney, Manly received little support from Sydneysiders other than their own fans. Reflecting what the Irish Times observed from abroad was a long-standing "inherent hatred" for Manly, many Australians supported the foreign Warriors to win the match.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0930/1224304998326.html Curiously, Aussies will be rooting for the New Zealand Warriors Thornley Gerry 30 September 2011 Irish Times 12 November 2011 The match was played in front of 81,988 spectators and, for the third year in a row, in the rain. After a tight opening 30 minutes, the Warriors led 2–0 thanks to a James Maloney penalty goal. However, Manly broke clear with two tries before half-time, the first to fullback Brett Stewart and the second to rookie halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, one play after an audacious kick from forward Glenn Stewart in his own half allowed winger Michael Robertson to break free down the right flank. Manly stretched its lead to 16 points after half-time following a try to Glenn Stewart, set up by a blind flick pass from William Hopoate as he was pushed out of play. The Warriors scored two unconverted tries in the final fifteen minutes by Manu Vatuvei and Elijah Taylor to narrow the deficit to eight points; however, Manly held onto its lead and celebrated victory with a try to captain Jamie Lyon in the final minute of play. The final score was 24–10. Glenn Stewart was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the player of the match.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-02/hasler-praises-churchill-winner-stewart/3206062/?site=sport&section=all?site=sport&section=rugbyleague Hasler praises Churchill winner Stewart 2 October 2011 ABC Sport 3 October 2011 Season statistics PlayerAppearances: Starting (interchange)TriesGoalsField GoalsPointsMatt Ballin2730012Daly Cherry-Evans27725/40381Kieran Foran2680032Jamie Lyon25959/800154Anthony Watmough2450020Glenn Stewart2340016Brent Kite230000Steve Matai2290036Michael Robertson21112/2048Brett Stewart20150060William Hopoate19140056Joe Galuvao16 (11)1004Jason King160000Michael Oldfield1260024David Williams1280032George Rose10 (16)30012Tony Williams8 (12)60024Shane Rodney8 (4)0000Jamie Buhrer7 (19)40016Vic Mauro4 (17)0000Dean Whare10000Tim Robinson0 (13)0000Darcy Lussick0 (8)0000Terence Seu Seu0 (5)0000Daniel Harrison0 (3)0104 Source: Rugby League Project Representative Players International 2011 Anzac Test 2011 Rugby League Four Nations Australia – Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Watmough, Tony Williams New Zealand – Kieran Foran State 2011 State of Origin series New South Wales – Jason King, William Hopoate, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough City vs Country City Origin – William Hopoate Country Origin – Glenn Stewart (c) Awards and honours Two Manly players were recognised in the official Dally M Awards for the NRL season. Daly Cherry-Evans was named the best rookie in the league, for a season in which he started at half-back in every single match. Steve Menzies was the last Manly player to have won the award, in 1994. Jamie Lyon was named in the NRL's team of the season, as the league's best centre.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-06/slater-claims-dally-m-medal/2874032 Slater claims Dally M Medal 7 September 2011 ABC News 12 November 2011 On 3 November 2011 the annual RLIF Awards dinner was held at the Tower of London. Manly coach Des Hasler was named the world's top coach of the year, while Cherry-Evans and Lyon added to their Dally M awards by being named the best players in their positions.Slater scoops player award https://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15313/7289077/Slater-scoops-player-award 5 November 2011 Sky Sports 3 November 2011 In the Golden Boot Awards decided by Rugby League World, Lyon and Anthony Watmough were named in the international team of the season.https://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15313/7345772/Thurston-scoops-Golden-Boot Thurston scoops Golden Boot 2 December 2011 Sky Sports 2 December 2011 At Manly's club awards, Glenn Stewart was named the best and fairest player for the season, Steve Matai the "players' player", and Daly Cherry-Evans the best rookie.http://www.mwse.com.au/?s=article-display&id=44361 2011 Awards Night Winners 7 October 2011 www.mwse.com.au Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 12 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120419150941/http://www.mwse.com.au/?s=article-display&id=44361 19 April 2012 dead dmy-all Five Manly players were selected in the Australian Kangaroos squad for the post-season Four Nations: Glenn and Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough, Tony Williams and Cherry-Evans, although the Stewart brothers subsequently withdrew from the squad before the tournament.https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/no-issue-with-watmough-insists-sheens-20111003-1l4m5.html No issue with Watmough, insists Sheens 3 October 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 12 November 2011 Post-season turmoil and sacking of Des Hasler Even as Manly was still celebrating its grand final victory, it was struggling to hold on to some of its key people. Prior to the finals series, long serving winger Michael Robertson had already announced his intention to leave the club to play for the London Broncos in the Super League, fulfilling an ambition to play in England. Barely days after the grand final, the other grand final winger, star rookie Will Hopoate, signed to play for the Parramatta Eels upon his return from a two-year Mormon mission.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-to-gain-manly-sea-eagles-prodigy-will-hopoate-but-could-lose-up-to-seven-stars/story-e6frexnr-1226160756115 Parramatta Eels to gain Manly Sea Eagles prodigy Will Hopoate but could lose up to seven stars Nicolussi Christian 7 October 2011 The Daily Telegraph 12 November 2011 Hopoate's loss was shortly followed by that of the club's head coach, Des Hasler. Hasler had won two premierships with the club in a long playing career (1987 and 1996), and two as the club's coach (2008 and 2011). Speculation about Hasler's future had been building in the weeks leading up to the grand final, but he appeared to quash the rumours by announcing after the match that he would be at Manly for 2012, the last year of his contract. However, within days, Hasler signed an agreement to coach the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from 2013. He agreed with Manly's board to remain as Manly's head coach for 2012, while the club would appoint Hasler's assistant Geoff Toovey from 2013.https://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/des-hasler-deserts-manly-sea-eagles-signs-with-canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs/story-fn2mcuj6-1226161000250 Des Hasler deserts Manly Sea Eagles, signs with rival NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 7 October 2011 Fox Sports 12 November 2011 Within the following weeks, a series of Manly staff followed Hasler in signing for the Bulldogs, including the club's recruitment manager and Hasler's 1987 premiership winning teammate Noel Cleal, who cited "factional infighting" as his reason for leaving.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/i-was-driven-out-by-infighting-and-backstabbing-says-cleal/news-story/f2395b3a60688686c9913ea0acf4b9fb I was driven out by infighting and backstabbing, says Cleal Kogoy Peter 11 November 2011 The Australian 2011-11-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20111110164702/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/i-was-driven-out-by-infighting-and-backstabbing-says-cleal/story-e6frg7mf-1226191885686 subscription live 12 November 2011 In early November, the Manly board suspended Hasler from his duties, alleging that he had been trying to entice fellow Manly staff to defect to the Bulldogs, which the board considered amounted to "serious breaches" of Hasler's employment contract (rumours also surfaced that he had tried to entice players Kieran Foran, Brett Stewart and Tony Williams to join him at Belmore). Ultimately, on 11 November, less than six weeks after winning the premiership, the board terminated Hasler's contract and immediately appointed Toovey as his successor.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-11/manly-cuts-ties-with-hasler/3660488/?site=melbourne Manly cuts ties with Hasler 11 November 2011 ABC News 12 November 2011http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/hasler-sacked-147137 Hasler sacked Buttigieg Luke 11 November 2011 Sportal 12 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111113012601/http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/hasler-sacked-147137 13 November 2011 dead dmy-all Hasler initially threatened to sue Manly for the termination of his contract; Manly's chairman Scott Penn claimed in response that the club had "verbal and email evidence that he was involved in coercing staff to leave".https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/its-on-hasler-penn-take-the-gloves-off-20111111-1nbjw.html It's on: Hasler, Penn take the gloves off Prichard Greg 12 November 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 12 November 2011 The 82-year-old former Manly player, coach and club secretary Ken Arthurson said: "To do what [Hasler] has done is beyond the pale". The club's 1978 premiership-winning captain Max Krilich called Hasler a "mercenary",https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/mercenary-des-hasler-pillaging-manly-ken-arthurson/news-story/36df036e74a95253c390d9895e196630 'Mercenary' Des Hasler pillaging Manly: Ken Arthurson Read Brent 10 November 2011 The Australian 2011-11-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20111110114350/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/mercenary-des-hasler-pillaging-manly-ken-arthurson/story-e6frg7mf-1226190652646 subscription live 12 November 2011 while another former premiership-winning captain Fred Jones called his defection to Canterbury "disgraceful".http://origin.manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/on-your-bike-hasler/ 'On your bike, Hasler' Prentice Andrew 9 November 2011 The Manly Daily 12 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120424230443/http://origin.manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/on-your-bike-hasler/ 24 April 2012 dead dmy-all After reaching an agreement to commence as the Bulldogs' head coach from 2012, a year earlier than first agreed, Hasler dropped his threat of legal action against Manly.https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/des-to-coach-dogs-next-year-wont-pursue-legal-action-against-manly-20111112-1ncwf.html Des to coach Dogs next year, won't pursue legal action against Manly Proszenko Adrian 13 November 2011 Sydney Morning Herald 12 November 2011 References 30em 2011 Category:2011 NRL season by club Category:2011 in sport in Sydney