Two-time premiership winner Joe Galuvao says Manly will continue to be a finals force despite an ageing list of players and a shortage of prop-forward options.
The Sea Eagles defied critics last season, who claimed the club was past it, to make it to the grand final before falling to the Sydney Roosters.
An Achilles injury ruled Galuvao out of Manly’s finals campaign last year and eventually forced his retirement with George Rose (Melbourne) and Brent Kite (Penrith) also key losses.
But Galuvao, who enjoyed premiership success with Manly in 2011 and Penrith in 2003, believes the Sea Eagles’ culture of success will endure as they chase a 10th successive finals appearance.
“They still have a good core of players, premiership players there, the Stewart brothers (Brett and Glenn) there, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and the halves, premiership-winning halves (Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran), so I don’t think they are going to lose much at all,” Galuvao told AAP.
“They showed last year Manly can take your Justin Horos and your Brent Lawrences and make them into world class players.
“It’s really up to all the boys, the new guys coming in, buying into what the established guys already have built.
“There has been a bit of personnel change but they have a great track record.”
Galuvao says coach Geoff Toovey, who has taken over seamlessly at Brookvale from premiership winning mentor Des Hasler, is a key driver in the club’s success.
“What they do have is an incredible worth ethic,” Galuvao said.
“You will see those new guys coming through who probably aren’t household names yet but will be and a lot of that comes from your first grade coach.
“Tooves has that drive and is on top of everything at training.”
Galuvao also says success has become a habit at the club and the experienced players and coach pass that onto the the emerging talent.
And that success comes through repetition and effort.
“It’s determined by attitude and Manly have that,” he says.
“It’s determined by how badly you want that success, and Manly want that success.
“Don’t worry they will be up there again.”