By Sam Ackerman
Simon Mannering has made a selfish decision by standing down as Warriors captain. And it's about time.
Calling a footy player selfish suggests they have a big ego or they don't care about the team. Neither of those things can apply to Mannering.
What Mannering has done is put himself first, which ironically is a first in his career. The easy thing to do would have been to stay on in the role to promote harmony within the team. But he wants more from himself, and for himself. When was the last time you heard a captain defy his coach's wishes and hand over the captaincy? It's an astonishing move.
Many are too proud to say their performance has suffered by taking a prestigious position. At 29 and with a body that's been through the wringer, Mannering likely has only a couple of years left in the league. He wants to get back to enjoying his game and give himself what he thinks are the best circumstances to play his best footy. Even when he's being selfish, it will work out in the best interests of the team.
For those who can't understand the extra responsibilities that come with being captain - this is the one that illustrates the reason for his exit from the role the best. After every game, the skipper has to accompany the coach to address the media. He's the one who week in, week out, has to get stitched up after making 40 plus tackles then just as the adrenaline wears off, trudge off to praise or defend the performances of his closest friends, his team-mates.
Mannering isn't a fan of big noting and talking himself or his team up (he once described beating Australia as "pretty good") and anyone who's seen him walk in and sit there after another Warriors defeat knows he'd give anything to be anywhere else.
He's the one who has had to bear the brunt of the most critical questions asked of the Warriors and rarely have those defeats been his fault. Four times the club's player of the year backs this up. That's okay if you're a Steve Price type who can talk the hind legs off a donkey. That's not Mannering, and it never will be.
Would you have wanted that job in the last couple of seasons?
Some crave the spotlight, Mannering would happily avoid it. The Nelson product is one of the few footballers who mean it when they say they don't read what is written about him - I can guarantee you he won't read this article. But he knows his captaincy style as the strong but silent type has been regularly criticised. His legacy though is one that should be regarded as staunch and unwavering during a tough time for the club. It's easy to lead when all is well, the measure is how they handled themselves when times were tough.
Some things won't change. Mannering will still be the first player jogging to each drill at the back end of a gruelling training session. He'll still be the last person to stop chasing an opponent down the field. He'll top tackle counts and will do work unseen by many a pundit as Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck get the headlines. That will suit him nicely.
Ryan Hoffman is a natural fit as the new captain, even with contenders like Issac Luke in the mix. If the Warriors are able to finally win a premiership, Simon Mannering won't be the man on the highlights packages lifting the trophy aloft on centre stage but that won't keep him up at night. One thing is for sure, if the Warriors can shake that gorilla off their back while Mannering is still playing, he'll have help lead the way.
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