Source : the age
Manly’s owners, the Penn family, say they have no intention of selling the under-performing NRL team after ushering a third generation onto its board.
Manly and coach Anthony Seibold are under scrutiny after a chaotic display against Newcastle on Sunday, their second consecutive defeat to begin the season.
Rick and Heather Penn with Manly’s former champion halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.Credit: Manly Sea Eagles
They have the bye this weekend before a mouth-watering duel with the Sydney Roosters and Daly Cherry-Evans, their former premiership-winning halfback and most capped player, who last year declined a contract extension with the Sea Eagles.
While there is mounting pressure on Seibold, family patriarch Rick Penn told this masthead: “I think we’ve just got to see what happens this season”.
Penn, 80, has himself stepped aside from the Sea Eagles board and been replaced by his 24-year-old grandson Oliver, who becomes the youngest club director across the NRL.
He and wife Heather retain a majority stake in Manly, and their New York-based son Scott has been the club’s chairman since 2007. But Penn said he believed it was time for a changing of the guard.
Anthony Seibold looks on during the round two match between Manly and the Knights at 4 Pines Park.Credit: Getty Images
“I just felt with the game at the moment, there’s a lot of young players, it was time for a youth injection,” Penn said. “We’re still owners and I’m on the phone 24-7. Anybody can call me for any ideas. It’s just lovely to be able to transfer it to my grandson.”
Oliver works for his father Scott’s health technology business Digital Wellness, which has been valued at up to $200 million.
The Penns were last year offered $30 million for their shareholding in the NRL team by a consortium fronted by mining executive Blake Cannavo.
The family, who made their fortune in the weight loss market and pioneering aerobics in Australia, insist they have no interest in getting out.
Manly hope to convince government to back a stadium rebuild at Brookvale.Credit: Getty Images
“We’re not looking at selling,” Penn said. “It’s great purpose in life. You don’t own the club – the fans own the club. You just pay the bills.”
Heather Penn added – only half jokingly – “Scott will never let us sell”.
The Sea Eagles have been through their fair share of turmoil in recent times between the messy departure of title-winning coach Des Hasler, the Manly Pride jersey fiasco and a churn of chief executives. They are also being sued over the collapse and death of former player Keith Titmuss in 2020 and are contesting separate legal action brought by ex-prop Lloyd Perrett.
The exit of talisman Cherry-Evans after 15 years was another setback and life without the halfback hasn’t started well.
“Sunday’s game was very disappointing,” Penn said. “But I think there is hope there … we’ve got some really good people coming through in the team. Once they start coming through that will make a big difference.”
He said he was pleased Tom Trbojevic had been made captain and said it was up to Seibold to get the side pulling together.
“The team has got to play for each other,” Penn said. “That is the biggest thing a coach can do. Get the team playing for each other.”
He believes Manly’s plan for an upgrade of 4 Pines Park – a proposed redevelopment incorporating affordable housing in the precinct – will also take the club to the next level.
The Sea Eagles have been in talks with government about funding for the project after opening a $32 million new 3000-seat grandstand and Centre of Excellence at the northern end of the ground in 2023.
Negotiations are being led by new CEO Jason King, the Manly grand final winner who previously headed the NRL’s integrity department.
“I think we’ve got a good board, but what I’m really excited about is Jason,” Penn said.
“I think we’ve got the most qualified CEO. He is just amazing. I feel very positive about us being able to build a good stadium.”
Heather Penn added: “And also getting back into the winner’s circle.”
