Trent Barrett claimed the Manly Sea Eagles have all the ingredients for future success as the club announced a three-year deal that will keep the former NSW and Australian representative in charge at Lottoland until the end of the 2020 season.
Barrett was linked to Canterbury and the Gold Coast during coaching vacancies at those clubs before ramping up negotiations with Manly.
After enduring some on-field growing pains during his debut season in 2016, Barrett and the Sea Eagles returned to finals this year.
The Sea Eagles' heart-breaking loss to Penrith in the opening weekend of the NRL finals took some of the gloss of what had been a season filled with promise.
The continued development of brothers Jake and Tom Trbojevic and the experienced leadership of halfback Daly Cherry-Evans provide Sea Eagles fans with cause for optimism heading into the 2018 season.
"We have a very talented and liked-minded playing group who I really enjoy coaching. They enjoy playing with, and for, each other, and we have all the ingredients for continued success at the Sea Eagles,'' Barrett said.
Manly chairman Scott Penn said the three-year deal showed the esteem in which Barrett is held.
"Trent has developed a very positive performance focused culture amongst the team and football operations staff. His contract extension reflects the high regard we have for his coaching ability, and the stability the extension provides the club,'' Penn said
In further good news for the Sea Eagles, the club also confirmed the appointment of ex-Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman to the same role at the northern beaches club.
While Gorman said he planned to make the improvement of communication channels between the club and members, fans and corporate partners one of his initial priorities, Penn said the background of the new club boss spoke for itself.
"Lyall has had a highly successful business management career and he brings strong leadership and a proven track record of success to the Club. In his most recent roles with the Sharks, Wanderers and Mariners, each club all experienced on-field and off-field success.
"I'm sure Lyall will help the Sea Eagles grow to the next level commercially off the field, with his proven formula of connecting and engaging the clubs he's worked for with the community and improving member and fan engagement and experience."
Prior to joining the Sharks, Gorman had served as CEO of A-League clubs Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers.
