MANLY-WARRINGAH RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 2014 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT It is with pleasure that I present this Annual Report 2014 to Football Club Members. 2014 saw our great Club end the regular season in equal first place on the ladder and reach our 10th successive finals series, confirming the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles as the most successful team of the decade. Although a loss, the comeback effort against the Canterbury-Bulldogs in the semi-final was nothing short of courageous, especially given the toll of disruption, injuries and suspensions. Geoff Toovey, his coaching staff, recruitment team and of course the players are to be congratulated on another great season. Under often trying circumstances they showed the same determination and winning culture that has been the trademark of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and all members should be incredibly proud of our team and their achievements. The salary cap that plays a key part in our game has unfortunately meant it is difficult for successful clubs to retain all their players. It is disappointing that the NRL does not adequately reward clubs like Manly who have managed to retain a group of loyal and long- serving players. This year the Sea Eagles had no less than seven players who have played first grade continuously with the Club for eight years or more, yet receive the same financial bonus as a club with just one. It is therefore with great sadness that we farewell a number of our players who have played a key part of the team’s ongoing success. Former co-captain and life member Jason King has retired as a one-Club player, and dual-premiership winning players Glenn Stewart and life member Anthony Watmough are leaving the club. We thank them for their many years of service to our club and wish them well for the future. On a more positive note several other existing players have been re-signed, including club captain Jamie Lyon who will play out his career at Brookvale Oval. Along with the new signings for 2015, we wish the team all the best for the 2015 Season. Off the pitch we have seen a number of changes. We welcome incoming CEO, Joe Kelly and wish him well in the new role. We also recognise and thank former General Manager David Perry for his efforts and the results he achieved whilst with the club. We have a very committed and passionate group of people at the Sea Eagles that support our team from the back office, and the role they play in the Club’s success should also be recognised. There has of course been a change to the ownership structure and the Football Club is committed to working with the Penn family as they develop and implement their plans for the future, including their commitment to Brookvale Oval. We are indebted to Co- Patron Kerry Sibraa AO for his ongoing work in this area. We welcome former Sea Eagles player and long-standing NRL Judiciary member, Mal Cochrane who joined our board this year following the resignation of Rory Muscat, and we thank Rory for his contribution. I would like to thank my fellow board members for their efforts during the year. We are all volunteers who give freely of our time whilst balancing the usual commitments and pressuresMW of work and family life. We are proud to have been selected to represent you and remain committed to protect and preserve the heritage of our great club and give members a voice at the board level of the Sea Eagles. It is pleasing that our membership numbers haveFOOTBALL again risen this year CLUB and I’d like to thank all members for the continued support. I wish all Football Club Members and their families a safeEst. and 1947happy Christmas and New Year. Bob Stevenson FOOTBALL CLUB DIRECTORS 2014 CO-PATRONS Ken Arthurson AM and Hon Kerry Sibraa AO Names Position Meetings called Meetings attended Bob STEVENSON Chairman 7 7 Bob REILLY Deputy Chairman 7 5 Julie SIBRAA Company Secretary 7 6 Chris JONES Director 7 7 Rory MUSCAT Director - resigned 10/9/14 6* 5 Darrell WILLIAMS Director 7 5 Cliff LYONS Director 7 4 Mal COCHRANE Director - appointed 9/10/14 1* 0 *denotes number of meetings called during Director’s tenure MANLY-WARRINGAH RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 2014 3 LIFE MEMBERS J L Munro* elected 1951 T P Burke elected 1974 W P O’Connell elected 1992 C White* elected 1957 J K Collins* elected 1974 E W Whiley elected 1992 D Stewart* elected 1958 F R Jones elected 1975 W J Poole elected 1993 G Ashton* elected 1959 F R Stanton elected 1977 P A Vautin elected 1993 R E Hudson* elected 1960 R Fulton AM elected 1978 R Lenon elected 1994 R H Ryan* elected 1962 D O Joyce elected 1978 R J Bull* elected 1997 E R Bull* elected 1962 M J Krilich elected 1982 G O Thoroughgood elected 1997 G V Willoughby* elected 1964 T W Randall elected 1982 C P Lyons elected 1999 E A Langford* elected 1965 R H Higham* elected 1983 D Hasler elected 2000 J W Cameron* elected 1966 G H Lenon elected 1983 G Toovey elected 2000 K R Arthurson AM elected 1967 G C Eadie elected 1983 P J Peters elected 2003 D I Rae* elected 1967 A S Thompson elected 1984 K W Sibraa AO elected 2005 G M Houston elected 1968 W W Lloyd* elected 1985 P L Cummings elected 2006 W H Lloyd* elected 1969 J L Martin* elected 1985 O J Cunningham elected 2007 R O Hudson elected 1970 B R Seymour elected 1985 W Bulmer elected 2008 D J Daley* elected 1972 E J Noffz* elected 1987 S Menzies elected 2009 J I Peebles* elected 1972 A G Keighran* elected 1989 J King elected 2012 R W Batty* elected 1973 R P Mossop* elected 1991 A Watmough elected 2012 J A Tenison* elected 1973 R J Ritchie elected 1991 * Deceased MANLY-WARRINGAH RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 2014 4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT It is my privilege to write my first CEO report to the Members of the Manly-Warringah Rugby League Football Club Limited. As I have only commenced at this great Club on Monday 24th November 2014, it is not appropriate for me to provide commentary with respect to the 2014 season, other than to say that the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles performance was very strong once again, finishing one win away from the Minor Premiership. Consistency across the entire season is difficult to achieve in this very tough competition, therefore, all the players and coaching staff deserve congratulations for this tremendous effort. Looking forward, I see an incredibly bright future for the Club. Within my remit as CEO, I am charged with facilitating success, and I will be ensuring that our staff and players receive the necessary resource support, and where required, I will be adding further experience and capability to the organisation, to compliment the wonderful staff that are already employed within the Club. I have previously worked in Clubs that have adopted private ownership models, both in Sydney and internationally. In this day and age, capital investment is necessary to remain competitive, and even more so, to get ahead of the opposition. I have seen this model work wonderfully well, whilst still retaining the core values, traditions and heritage elements, which after all are fundamental to the Club’s purpose in the first place. As the CEO, I will ensure that we will never lose sight of what has made this Club great. We should embrace the opportunities that will now present themselves as a consequence of the corporate structure changes that have occurred recently. To ultimately be successful, we need the entire collective of Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Members and Supporters behind us. Internally we can set strategy, build infrastructure and resources, and develop a professional service orientated Club, but we need everyone who supports this Club to commit to the journey ahead in order to turn the Sea Eagles in to a world class sporting organisation. Your commitment and unwavering support is the lifeblood of the Club. I look forward to meeting you all during the 2015 season. Joe Kelly Chief Executive Officer Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Limited MW FOOTBALL CLUB Est. 1947 MANLY-WARRINGAH RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 2014 5 2014 SPONSORS & PARTNERS Major Partner Sleeve Partner Above Number Partner Below Number Partner Shorts Partner Apparel Partner Sternum Partner 99 Bikes AAA Radiator Specialists Acenet Solutions Pty Ltd ACG Building Pty Ltd Air Tahiti Nui Pty Ltd Airroad Distribution Pty Ltd Allan Hall Business Advisors Pty Ltd Anchor Security Austereo Pty Ltd (Triple M) Australian International Traders Pty Ltd Avalon Air B S C Physical & Mental Performance Bakker Towing Balgowlah RSL Memorial Club Barrowar Pty Ltd Bars-N-Racks Bartercard Australia Bayview Golf Club Limited Beachwheels Automotive Beam Global Australia Pty Ltd Beiersdorf Australia Limited BET365 - Carat Aust Media Services P/L Blades Botany Access Pty Ltd Boyded Industries Braza Newport Brisclean Pty Ltd Brooke Withers Sport & Life Pty Ltd Brookvale Hotel Brookvale Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd Brookvale Sand Buildbits Business First Accounting Services CAP Transport Pty Ltd Cardfix Pty Ltd Centro Warriewood Chemist Warehouse Dee Why Coca-Cola Amatil (Australia) Pty Ltd Coffee Crew Compact Lamps Australia Crinitis Daikin Australia Pty Ltd Daimler Trucks Sydney - Huntingwood Dee Why Grand Designa Accessories Diacore Unit Trust DMK Forest Products Pty Ltd Dracakis Jewellers Eastwood Air Conditioning Pty Ltd Embroid and Brand Pty Ltd FAL Healthy Beverage Pty Ltd Fitness First Australia Pty Ltd Fluid Building Services Pty Ltd Foley’s Nursery Pty Ltd Forest Coach Lines Forsite Constructions Going Up Elevators H D Constructions Pty Ltd Hall Chadwick, Chartered