Interview: Geoff Toovey

But then he would hit. Oh boy, would he hit.

With a thunderous technique that consistently levelled bemused opponents, the wily scrum-half earned a reputation as the toughest pound-for-pound player in the Australian game during a career that spanned three decades and almost 300 matches with his beloved Manly.

Now he is in charge of the prestigious club that resides in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with his first game, no less, being tonight’s World Club Challenge against Leeds Rhinos.

There is a belief, just as when he was on the field, he will not be daunted by the size of the task.

Leeds counterpart Brian McDermott – the towering former Royal Marine and Bradford Bulls prop – loomed over him when they met for the first time earlier this week but it was nothing new for Toovey.

McDermott could just as easily have been Paul Harragon, Gorden Tallis or Paul Sironen; all gnarled Australian giants bettered by the ‘Babyfaced Assassin’.

However, the circumstances in which Toovey has taken control at Manly are indeed unusual and it has been a testing period in the build-up to this evening’s event.

Just over a month after they had defeated New Zealand Warriors to jubilantly take the NRL crown last October, head coach Des Hasler was sacked.

Having already announced he would join Canterbury in 2013, causing much infighting with their board, the Manly legend who guided them to two premiers had been charged with serious breaches of his contract, including allegedly head-hunting players and members of staff to follow him to the Bulldogs.

It meant long-time friend and team-mate Toovey, who had returned as his assistant in 2007, was elevated to the top position, just not in the manner he had ever envisaged.

“It’s not as difficult as it sounds,” he maintains.

“There’s a good core of experienced players at the club who have made the transition a lot easier than it could have been.

“You don’t have to throw out the baby with the bath water.

“We’re very strong mentally and I think that’s helped us get through this off-season.

“But all the boys are now really sick and tired running round and round a field playing no one; they want to be playing a game and we’ll be ready for Leeds.”

The ex-Kangaroo, who won the 1996 Grand Final with Manly alongside Hasler, insists he is not going to tinker too much with their winning formula.

Toovey, 42, said: “With such a late change you can’t afford to make a lot of dramatic changes.

“But why should you move from such a successful system you’ve got which was put in place by Des and the coaching staff including myself?

“We know we’re up against a very formidable team in Leeds and they’ll have a hostile crowd behind them here at Headingley.

“But we like that and we’ll rise to the occasion.”

He has a little history with the competition having been on the Manly books when they flew here in 1987 to feature in its inaugural event, the memorable classic which Wigan edged at Central Park. “It came too early for me,” recalls Toovey. “I didn’t get on the actual trip, but I still remember how excited senior players – blokes like Cliffy Lyons and Dessie Hasler – were about it.”

Toovey’s debut came swiftly enough though, and in enthralling style, as the little teenager masterminded a 30-0 drubbing of the 1988 Great Britain tourists.

A rich and long-lasting half-back partnership was soon formed with Lyons, the brilliant stand-off who was named man-of-the-match in Leeds’ Yorkshire Cup final win over Castleford, also in 1988, and is now coaching Manly’s reserve grade.

It seems strange that New South Wales State of Origin star Toovey never joined Manly peers such as Hasler (Hull FC), Michael O’Connor (St Helens) and Lyons in gracing the English game but absurdly, for a player of such skill and tenacity, he claims no one came knocking.

“I didn’t get any offers anywhere except from Manly,” he insists.

“I would have loved to have played over here for a year or two.

“Cliffy loved it at Leeds – I think he wanted a trip over now to visit old friends – but with the injuries I had, my body had had enough.

“I think Super League is a fantastic competition though, a fantastic football culture here and feel every footballer around the world should want to try experience it.”

One of those who is currently experiencing Super League is another Manly hero, Steve Menzies, the former Bradford Bulls star now thriving at Catalan at the ripe old age of 37.

“How good’s Beaver going?” smiled Toovey. “Someone told me he was playing five-eighth last year and still killing it. He’s a freaky athlete. He must be 45 now but what a great player and a true gentleman. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes around again next year.”

Unless Menzies reconvenes at Brookvale Oval as one of Toovey’s lieutenants in the new regime?

First, though, will Toovey – so competitive and courageous on the field – be as fiery off it as a head coach? “I don’t think so – but I’ll let you know when a few bad decisions go our way,” he laughed. A World Cup winner at Wembley in 1995 it is hard to see him changing too much. Leeds will be all too aware.