Eagles job share
By James Hooper
MANLY coach Des Hasler is set to appoint co-captains for the first time in the 63-year history of the Sea Eagles,
with Jamie Lyon and Jason King tipped to share the honour.
But respected Manly figures are split over dividing the job, with Sea Eagles godfather Ken Arthurson urging Hasler to follow the more traditional formula of naming a captain and vice-captain.
With 47 days until the new NRL season kicks off, The Sunday Telegraph understands the Sea Eagles have hatched a plan to use Lyon as their on-field leader and King for the majority of corporate and media responsibilities.
"I'm not really a co-captain type of person, I reckon you've got to make a choice," Arthurson said. "I'd personally be picking a captain and if it was Jamie Lyon, then I'd have Glenn Stewart as vice-captain."
The issue has created a difference of opinion between two former club powerbrokers, with ex-chief executive Ian Thomson supporting the leadership formula of having dual skippers.
"In the modern game it's very rare you see players involved for the full 80 minutes because of the interchange system, so I think there's merit in naming co-captains," Thomson said.
The captain of the Sea Eagles' 1978 grand final-winning outfit, hooker Max Krilich, said it was a formality that the Lyon-King ticket would be rubber-stamped on the northern peninsula.
The decision is expected to be made in the next month. The announcement will torpedo the hopes of the NRL's most dynamic forward Anthony Watmough, who outlined his desire to captain the Sea Eagles after returning from the Four Nations tour last November.
But all three Manly legends warned against rushing Watmough into the role, with his volatile temperament seen as a potential stumbling block when it comes to dealing with referees.
"I've got a very high regard for Anthony Watmough, but I'm not really sure about (captaincy). He would lead by example, there's no question there, but I don't know he's the right man to be negotiating with the referee," Arthurson said.
The caution comes after Watmough was bashed on the northern beaches last Sunday when the back-rower rushed to the aid of team-mate Steve Matai.
In August, Watmough was involved in a heated on-field argument with former captain Matt Orford as the Sea Eagles were being upstaged by the Rabbitohs.
"You're better off leaving Watmough to play the brand of football he plays and don't let him near the referees," Krilich said. "He's a dynamic player but it could interfere with his game."
Thomson said: "There'll be a time for Choc (Watmough) to be captain, but whether it's now is probably a bit debatable. "But I remember when South Sydney made John Sattler captain in the 1960s and it gave him a sense of responsibility, so maybe history can repeat."
Daily Telegraph
