By MARK CASHMAN

The Manly Marlins 2021 Shute Shield season didn’t start that well with a significant loss to Gordon at Manly Oval and never really got out of first gear.

Season ending injuries to key personnel didn’t help matters but by the time that the competition was called off there were a few green shoots coming through in the likes of backrower Hunter Ward.

Coach Matt McGoldrick has handed the reins on to a familiar face in Phil Blake and as he says here the foundations of a revival, right across the club, are there if the work is done.

All the numbers

Played: Nine

Won: Two

Lost: Seven

Points for: 191

Points Against: 343

Differential: -152

Bonus Points: Five

Competition Points: 13

Position: 11th

What was the best part of the 2021 journey?

It would have to be seeing the younger players improve. Seeing week for week the hunger for the team to get better in the face of tough results.

What was the worst part?

Injuries again cruelled our season. Losing Tevin Ferris. Jimmy Ohmsen, Mana Koko, James Parker, Yool Yool and Harry Hayward really hurt. They are all players who on their day can genuinely make a difference and having them either out for the season or close to it meant we were likely going to struggle. 

Who was your “go to” player in the Shute Shield squad?

Our backrower Hunter Ward continued to perform even in the tough times for us. He had a great season.  

If the season played out who would have played in the grand final?

Uni is there without a doubt and then after that it’s a pretty open book.

Is the appointment of Darren Coleman at the Waratahs good for the Shute Shield?

It’s without doubt great for the Shute Shield. Hopefully it will open some more doors and improve the pathway for local players who are in the club footy pathway. I think he will do a good job and the squad that he has pulled together looks pretty good and will come up with some results in 2022. 

What needs to happen between now and Round One next year? 

We need to keep developing our colts and existing group. We’ve worked hard on standardising the program through grade and colts and I hope that this continues. There’s no doubt that we are in a rebuilding phase. That takes time and patience but you’ve got to keep creating a good environment. Whilst our results weren’t there this season, I’m comfortable we’ve moved on to a strong path to get back to pushing for premierships through the club. 

Which player(s) do you expect to go on to bigger and better things next year? 

Three guys that I mentioned earlier Hunter Ward, Yool Yool and Mana Koko

Bold prediction for 2022: 

Marlins to finish in the top three of the club championship.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON