With Trent Barrett on "gardening leave", Manly coach Des Hasler has gone to work and announced the first re-signings under his second tenure at the NRL club - giant forwards Taniela Paseka and Addin Fonua-Blake.
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Hasler has ensured he will boast one of the NRL's biggest packs for his second crack with the Sea Eagles reins after Paseke and Fonua-Blake inked new long term deals.
Hasler has begun to roll up his sleeves at Manly after being hired to take over at the NRL club following Barrett's decision to hand in his resignation, giving 12 months' notice back in July.
Barrett is currently being paid to stay away from Manly training but has been linked to the vacant Cronulla job.
The awkward situation has not stopped Hasler getting down to business, showing faith in Fonua-Blake and Paseke who chime into a pack also boasting fellow 110kg-plus wrecking balls Marty Taupau, Lloyd Perrett and Toafofoa Sipley.
"Addin can become one of the great Manly Warringah Sea Eagles front-rowers in its history," Hasler said.
"(And) Taniela is a willing learner and he has a lot of experience around him.
"I have no doubt that he will graduate to be an outstanding NRL front-rower."
In a show of Hasler's faith, Tongan international Fonua-Blake, 23, was contracted until the end of 2020 but has re-signed until the end of 2022.
Fonua-Blake has played 60 NRL matches since his 2016 debut, including all 24 for Manly in 2018, averaging 126m a game.
The 120kg, 197cm Paseka, 21, was off contract in 2019 but has re-signed until the end of 2021.
He made his NRL debut in round six and went on to play 13 games.
Australian Associated Press
