It was a case of strength in numbers with plenty of determined youngsters at the Sea Eagles’ ‘Club Day’ training session at Narrabeen on Saturday.
The final weekend pre-season training session before the Christmas break saw players from the Manly Jersey Flegg (formerly Holden Cup), Blacktown Workers Intrust Super Premiership and the NRL squad come together for a joint skills session before doing some opposed ball work.
Sea Eagles Coach Trent Barrett said the joint session works for many reasons.
“It was awesome having the three squads here together. It helps in building relationships throughout our club,’’ Barrett said.
“It is all inclusive and demonstrates that we are serious about the pathway from our Jersey Flegg through to Blacktown and then to the NRL side.
“A session like this is good for the Blacktown players. They can see a guy like forward Kelepi Tanginoa who came through there this year and has now earned himself a contract with Manly for next season.
“[Coach] Stephen Hales is doing a good job there at Blacktown and they have recruited pretty well. They have some good players with a fair bit of few grade experience.
“It certainly helps us with the quality that is coming through behind our top squad and it keeps the pressure on them as well.”
