By MARK CASHMAN

In a major coup with cross code ramifications the Warringah Rats will welcome NRL premiership winner Geoff Toovey to their coaching ranks for the 2021 Shute Shield season.

Toovey, whose storied career in rugby league included 286 first grade games for the Sea Eagles, 13 Tests for the Kangaroos and 16 games for the NSW States of Origin side, before transitioning into a highly successful NRL coach.

He joined the Manly coaching staff under Des Hasler in 2004 and took the reins full-time at the Sea Eagles in 2012.

Success was immediate and he continued to give Manly that hard edge with finals appearances regularly until he moved on at the end of the 2015 season.

The 2013 NRL season as a coach was probably his best steering the club to the grand final only to be beaten by the Sydney Rooster 26-18

Warringah head coach Mike Ruthven said he was looking forward to working with the NRL legend to give the Rats a winning edge.

“We’ve had a couple of chats now and I’m looking forward to working with Geoff immensely,” Ruthven said.

“He will get his boots on the ground next week and have a look at what we are doing at training and see where he can best add to our program.

“But we see Geoff taking on a hands on specialist skills role at the club.

“To be honest it’s great for me, the coaching group and the club as a whole to learn off a guy like ‘Tooves’ and he is sure to add plenty of value.

“As a coach you look at his career both as a player and a mentor and he has been a winner, a consistent and ruthless winner.

“He always played well above his weight when he was on the field and we want him to bring that attitude to Rat Park.”

This is a season of transition for the Rats following the retirements of skipper Sam Ward, Josh Holmes, Rob Kelly and Dave Feltscheer.

But according to Ruthven it’s chugging along in the right direction.

“Those guys will always be hard to replace as they have had an incredible influence at the club,” Ruthven said.

“But in the same breath it’s exciting for the young group coming through to make their mark and do something with their footy.

“The retirements have left a hole in some of the leadership areas but I am seeing already areas where our next wave of Rats achievers are stepping into that breach.

“It’s something that doesn’t happen overnight but I can see people growing into it.”

The big pickups for the Rats on the recruitment fronts have come from Penrith with promising flyhalf Dean Blore and backrower Johnny Tuivati going the club along with lock Hugh Margin from Gordon who will be a significant pick up.

“Dean’s a tremendous talent who has been working hard all through the pre-season,” Ruthven said.

“He’s a super athlete and if we can help him with his game management skills he is going to to be a great asset.

“Johnny has a rugby league background and played as a forward in the middle of the field. He has shown us that he can run well with the ball and he’s great at stopping guys too.”

An unusual pickup that the Rats have secured is a lock from the Rebels system – Giovani Mountain-Silbrey.

He was brought across from Auckland by the AFL’s international development program and had three years in that before returning to his rugby roots.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON