NRL

Manly has become the latest NRL side to announce big changes to its football department for next season.

According to Code Sports, several key figures from Kieran Foran’s 2026 staff will depart Brookvale including Brett Kimmorley, head of football Peter Gentle and coaching development and leadership manager Aaron Greaves.

The Sea Eagles news comes just a day after it was revealed John Morris will leave his role as a senior assistant with the Wests Tigers.

Morris returned to Concord in 2024 alongside close mate Benji Marshall and still had a year left on his contract but is walking away as part of a wider review of the club’s football program after yet another disappointing year.

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Former Sharks and Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Morris in 2027.

Two other confirmed assistant changes for 2027 involve the Sydney Roosters.

Michael Cheika will depart Trent Robinson’s staff after one season to re-take the reins as NSW Waratahs Super Rugby coach, filling the vacancy left by Dan McKellar’s exit.

Meanwhile Matt King will also step down at season’s end after being elevated to head coach of the NSW Blues for 2027, with former Roosters favourites Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend strongly tipped to fill the vacant roles.

At the Broncos, the departures began early when Ben Te’o quit as assistant coach back in March following a reported clash with Michael Maguire.

Retiring captain Adam Reynolds is set to transition straight into a Broncos coaching role in 2027 to work closely with the club’s halves and younger players, while former Brisbane forward Corey Parker continues to be linked with an official post at Red Hill, though nothing has been confirmed by the club.

Te’o meanwhile remains strongly tipped to join Wayne Bennett’s staff at South Sydney where he will also be re-united with new Rabbitohs recruit Payne Haas.

Adding to the current coaching upheaval, the PNG Chiefs have been actively poaching experienced names ahead of their 2028 NRL debut.

The Chiefs have already locked in former Broncos, Rabbitohs and Manly head coach Anthony Seibold and ex-Eels great Luke Burt as assistants to head coach Willie Peters from November 2027.

With plenty of other NRL clubs already conducting — or soon to conduct — their own end-of-season reviews it’s safe to say the assistant coaching merry-go-round is only likely to accelerate as more clubs look towards 2027 and beyond.

Question is, just like a game of musical chairs who will have a job when the music stops?

NRL

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