Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are pleased to confirm the coaches for the Club’s Pathways teams in the 2026 season.
Extended squads have commenced a pre-Christmas block of training, with final squads to be announced closer to the start of the junior rep season in February.
The Club welcomes its new coaches who will mentor our rising stars over the coming months.
Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) - Luke Phillips
Taking charge of our Lisa Fiaola team is former Manly fullback, Luke Phillips.
Sea Eagle #424, Luke played the 1998 season with Manly before joining the Roosters where he won an NRL premiership in 2002.
Luke successfully transitioned post-retirement to become an NRL referee and has more recently overseen women’s programs at St George, North Sydney and the Roosters.
Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) - Ray Windle
Ray Windle will guide our Sea Eagles Under 19s team in its fourth season in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
Ray has coached the highly successful Roosters Tarsha Gale team in recent years and prior to that was heavily involved in Wests Tigers Cubs program.
A Balmain junior, Ray was also coach of the NSW Women’s Opens team in 2005 and 2006.
Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s) - Tom Giles
The Sea Eagles Harold Matthews Cup team will be mentored by Tom Giles.
A former Australian Schoolboys representative, Giles is a 25-year-old prop who was Captain-Coach of the 2024 premiership-winning Young Cherrypickers in the Group 9 competition.
Before heading to the bush Giles played in the lower grades at the Roosters, Sharks and Rabbitohs.
SG Ball Cup (Under 19s) - Lachlan Croker
Lachlan Croker will make the swift transition from NRL player to head coach of the Sea Eagles SG Ball Cup team in 2026.
A hooker who began his first-grade career in the halves, Croker played 125 games over eight seasons for Manly, after making his NRL debut for the Raiders in 2016.
“I’m excited about the next chapter in life and the transition into coaching,” Croker said.
It’s a big responsibility helping the next crop of talent coming through.
Lachlan Croker Head Coach - Sea Eagles SG Ball Cup
“I’m really fortunate to have a great crew around me with Parks [Brad Parker] and Jack [Jack Johns] on board as my assistant coaches.”
Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) - Chris Crotty
Chris Crotty will take charge of the Sea Eagles Jersey Flegg Cup team in 2026 after guiding the Roosters to the second week of the finals in the Harold Matthews Cup last year.
Prior to that Chris spent two years as coach of Balmain’s Harold Matthews team.
A Northern Beaches local and lower grade player with Manly and the Roosters, Crotty made one NRL appearance for the Rabbitohs in 1997.
NSW Cup - Brett Kimmorley
Former NSW and Australia premiership-winning half, Brett Kimmorley, will coach the Sea Eagles NSW Cup team in 2026.
Kimmorley spent several years in pathways programs before becoming the inaugural coach of Wests Tigers NRLW team, a position he held for three years.
Brett brings a wealth of experience to the Club having played 307 NRL games across 16 seasons, including one season with the Northern Eagles in 2001.
