A simple but effective group activity shared by players and staff is creating a strong foundation of togetherness this pre-season for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
As part of an initiative driven by new Coach Anthony Seibold, players have been hand picked into small groups alongside a Football Staff member to undertake a weekly individual group activity outside of their training schedules. Each group is also required to take a photo of their activity for that week.
From meeting at a local café over coffee, playing golf, to taking in a Sydney Kings basketball game, the compulsory weekly activity is building a real sense of belonging amongst new and established players as they get themselves battle ready for 2023.
Prop Toff Sipley has already noticed the flow on effect amongst his group of Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Kaeo Weekes, Ben Condon, Troy Dargan, Christian Tuipulotu, and NRL Skill Development Coach, Steven Hales.
“It’s massive. For someone like Ben Condon, who came down from Townsville, it’s been great for him to get to know the boys away from footy,’’ Sipley said.
“I like Benny. He’s a good country boy. Really easy to get along with.
“Last week for our group activity, we had a fun dress up theme for our round of par 3 golf at Terrey Hills. I wore my Christmas pyjamas set.
“We played a little round of Ambrose. Everyone had to put in $20. ‘Dargs’ and ‘CT’ took the cash.
“It was just beginners’ luck for Christian. He got the only birdie on the day. Gordie took out the ‘most improved’ player award seeing golf is a completely new game for him.
There is also some good banter going on between the groups in terms of coming up with ideas.
Toff Sipley
“My group is off to the Sydney Kings game at Homebush this Sunday. If there is a prize for best activities at the end of pre-season, then our group surely has to get it.”
Chan Kum Tong said the group activity was a great way for young players to interact with the senior squad outside of training.
“It helps develop the bonds between the group so when we take the field, we know we have each other’s backs,’’ Chan Kum Tong said.
“For a young player coming into an NRL squad, it can be really intimidating as you don’t know what to expect, so this idea really helps in developing friendships.”
2022 Clubman of the Year, Lachlan Croker, welcomed the activity that he shares each week with Viliami Fifita, Cooper Johns, Ben Trbojevic, Jackson Ferris, and Assistant Coach Shane Flanagan.
“A lot of the guys live out west so they don’t get much time to spend together outside of training as they need to get home to their families,’’ Croker said.
“By just meeting together once a week, it certainly has brought us together. It’s been good talking to different people about various things.
“It has been great hearing some rugby league tales from ‘Flano’ too. He is very entertaining. Our group will hit a golf driving range this Friday for something different.”
Prop Jacob Sykes also endorsed the group activity, saying he could already see a strong trust formed after just three weeks.
“We had a really hard beach session at Long Reef last Saturday and when the going got tough, you could see we all wanted to work together. You didn't want to let anyone down,’’ Sykes said.
“The group activities are definitely playing their part in how we train and support one another.”
