Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have further expanded their footprints to attract the best young talent available from overseas with another exciting new partnership.
Following on from Manly’s already established partnerships with St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon, and the Mangere East Hawks in Auckland, the Sea Eagles have now joined forces with the Castleford Tigers in England.
Two of Castleford’s greatest ever players in Malcolm Reilly and Kevin Ward won premierships with the Sea Eagles. Reilly was a two time premiership winner in 1972-73 and Ward in 1987.
The partnership with Castleford will see the Sea Eagles work with the Tigers’ Academy program in helping to develop their players with an opportunity to bring some young talent to Manly for potential playing opportunities.
Both clubs will also work together in sharing ideas around coaching and training with plans underway to bring Castleford Academy players to the Northern Beaches for games against Manly’s pathways teams.
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov welcomed the partnership with Castleford Tigers.
“We want to focus on bringing through more of our very talented local juniors but at the same time, we want to complement that with the best international talent that is available,’’ Mestrov said.
“The Castleford Tigers have a great Academy program and a huge nursery in the Yorkshire region that we would like to tap into.
“This is already happening with our partnerships with St Brendan’s College and Mangere East Hawks and we can see similar progress and opportunities being made available now with Castleford.”
St Brendan’s College has produced a host of NRL players including current players Harry Grant, Ben Hunt and Corey Oates. Manly Coach Manly Coach Anthony Seibold graduated from the college in 1991.
Two of their students in Tyler Melrose and Simon Green have already earned contracts with Manly's SG Ball squad next year.
The partnership with Mangere East Hawks, situated in the south of Auckland, provides coaches and female players with development opportunities and pathways to progress to the Sea Eagles.
