By Jon Geddes

HE is the rising star who was lost to rugby and has returned to make a huge impact for the revitalised Manly Marlins in their Shute Shield campaign.

Twenty-year-old backrower Langi Gleeson has hit a purple patch of form, with a standout display in Manly’s 19-17 win over arch-rivals Warringah in the battle of the beaches and then backing that up with a three-try man of the match performance in last Saturday’s 34-32 win over premiership heavyweights Norths at Manly Oval.

The former Junior Wallaby is a Harbord Harlequins junior, who like so many promising young rugby players made the big switch to rugby league and had a season with the South Sydney Rabbitohs Under 20s after finishing school.

“Because of COVID I came back here (to Manly),” Gleeson said.

And he returned to rugby a better player after honing his skills in the cut-throat professional rugby league environment where only the strong survive.

“In training it is all physical,” he said.

Despite his eye-catching effort, Gleeson played down his starring role against Norths.

“Three tries were basically off my teammates, they did all the hard work,” he said.

Gleeson is currently in the Waratahs’ squad and has had a taste of Super Rugby this season. And while NSW already has No.7s Michael Hooper and Charlie Gamble in their squad, Gleeson can switch to other spots in the backrow.

“I just have to keep doing what I am doing and wait for my turn,” he said.

Now Manly coach Phil Blake, a former Wallabies assistant coach, is carrying on Gleeson’s development.

“He is just passionate as a coach and has pushed the boys 100 per cent,” Gleeson said.

Blake said both the Waratahs and Manly see that Gleeson has a very promising future.

“He is certainly having some big moments,” Blake said. “He is really strong through the hips, he accelerates through contact and his rugby awareness is really good around the field.

“He is going to be a special player over the next two years and it’s going to be unreal to see him develop into the player everyone knows he can be.

“He is certainly a talent and we appreciate every time DC (Waratahs coach Darren Coleman) lets him play for us.”

Saturday’s game was see-sawing contest, with Norths holding early ascendancy to take an 11-0 lead before Manly took control and raced ahead 34-11.

Norths then staged a spirited fightback to score the final 21 points of the game. But it was not enough –  and Manly held on to win in a thrilling finish, continuing their impressive start to the season to sit second on the ladder.

“You’ve got to be happy, remember over the past two years the club has won four games,” Blake said.

“We had a slow start, a very good 20 minutes either side of halftime and then unfortunately the last 20 minutes wasn’t the best and gave them an opportunity which they probably didn’t deserve on the day to maybe sneak a win at the end.”

What Blake likes is the character that his team is showing.

“It doesn’t come easy, you’ve to put the right team around you in regards to the coaching staff, you’ve got to back the program and get the right players that buy into the program,” Blake said.

“And everyone has jumped on board, as you can see it’s a pretty happy club at the moment.”

But Blake has been around long enough to not get carried away by the good early signs.

“We still realise there is long way to go,” he said.

Manly have a top of the table clash at home this Saturday against Eastwood, who beat Warringah 45-0 last start.