John has resigned from his positions in Australia to take up a role as Head Coach with the San Diego Legion in the American Major League Rugby competition. Sadly that means that after 15 years, his association with the Woods will be broken
Its been quite a stint: the numbers alone don't tell the whole story but they sure tell a pretty impressive one
3 Shute Shields, 4 Minor Premierships, 4 Grand finals, 2 Australian Club Championships
Played | Win | Draw | Loss | For | Against | Difference | %win | |
2010 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 461 | 275 | 186 | 67% |
2011 | 24 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1020 | 393 | 627 | 96% |
2012 | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 542 | 372 | 170 | 78% |
2013 | 21 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 858 | 457 | 401 | 81% |
2014 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 784 | 467 | 317 | 81% |
2015 | 21 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 846 | 389 | 457 | 86% |
2018 | 19 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 604 | 411 | 193 | 58% |
Total | 136 | 108 | 2 | 26 | 5115 | 2764 | 2351 | 79% |
but there was a whole lot more to John's involvement with the Club than just 1st grade.
You'd see him just about every week turning up to watch 4th grade and running the line when needed. You'd see him at mid week catch up Colts games, helping out with lower grade skills session and even standing at 10 when 1st grade had a few drills - a 5/8 trapped in a front rower's body! Then there was his family when they were all younger, hoeing into a schnitzel and chips at Wings after a big win. In 2018 the Club recognised his wonderful contribution over many years by awarding him Clubman of the Year.
Its 10.45 in the morning and here he is, running the line for 4th grade v Penrith
President Brett Papworth paid tribute to John
Our Club has been strong for more than two decades, essentially on the back of the quality of our people.
None have been better than John Manenti, who joined us more than 15 years ago as Brian Melrose’ Assistant. Brian moved offshore in 2010 and John took over as Head Coach.
John led the Woods to four straight Minor Premierships from 2010, with Premierships in 2011, 2014 and 2015.
In the years since, John took on more important roles with Rugby Australia as 7s coach, with both our men’s and women’s teams, which restricted his involvement with Eastwood, although we did everything we could to maintain John’s involvement with us, as Director of Rugby, even when his time was limited. He was that important to us.
It was perhaps inevitable that there would come a day when John moved on.
We will miss his knowledge, his wisdom, his manner and demeanour, and most of all his care for Eastwood Rugby.
We wish him all the best for his stint in San Diego and beyond. Success follows John, and will again I’m certain.
I suppose there are a couple of people who would always have a job for life at Eastwood. John Manenti is one of them.
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Its a bittersweet time for the Woods - there's no-one who would wish John anything but the greatest success but its tinged with some sadness that he won't be around next season
To mark his time, Wood eNews sat down for a one on one with the Coach one last time
Q Well the time has finally come. 15 years is a long time for a coach anywhere anytime. That's a pretty major achievement. Let's start at the beginning. You didn't play for the Club or live in the district, so how did you end up at TG?
I started in 2010 as an assistant coach to Billy Melrose. We’d worked together in the Australian 20s team & he was such a competitive guy & a great rugby mind, that I jumped at the chance to work with Billy.
Q Do you remember your first game in charge - How did that go?
I took over mid season & I think it was Warringah at Rat Park & we lost…tough way to start!
Q There's been lots and lots of highlights - hard and a bit unfair to single out some but do you have any special memories?
The premiership victories are the obvious standouts. 2011 was probably the most talented team I ever coached at Eastwood. Winning 24 from 25 that year was remarkable.
Q For every high, there's a low - what was the hardest time and how did you get out of it?
2013 Grand Final we lost by 50 points v Sydney Uni was really tough to deal with - but it drove me to back to back premierships in the following two years.
Q Over all those 15 years, when you look back, being a little bit selfish now, what gives you the most personal satisfaction. What are you most proud of?
I think the GF win in 2014 was probably the win that gives me most satisfaction - we lost our back 3 in the weeks leading into the game & not many gave us a chance. That was the most resilient team I’ve coached.
Also the consistency from 2011-2015 I don’t know how many losses we had, but we were so consistent. I can’t remember if we ever lost back to back games except the 2012 finals. But consistency is the hall mark of great teams
Q You're off to the USA to help Make American Rugby Great (MARG - we've having the caps printed as we speak). Tell us a bit about how that came about and what you're looking forward to over there in SoCal
I’ve loved my time in 7s, but I’m craving to get back into 15s. I’ve followed the MLR from afar for a while, so when the opportunity came up I jumped at it. I’m looking forward to getting to San Diego & hope to build a successful block like I did at TG
Q Its a 2 year appointment. What's your plans after that?
It’s too hard to crystal ball what the future holds, if I’m winning games of footy it will look after itself
Q and don't forget, we expect to see you at Castle Hill on your return!
Eastwood will always hold a special place in my heart & watching the Woodies play will be the first thing on the agenda when I get home.
I can’t thank the Club, the players & supporters enough for give me the opportunity to do what I love & sharing an amazing period in my life.
Till we meet again…
All the best Coach, Go Well
and an article by the great Paul Cook on John's early years at the Woods: https://behindtheruck.com/2013/09/13/seeing-the-woods-for-the-trees-how-eastwood-were-reborn/
and some match reports of some of those great games
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