Former Sea Eagles favourite Michael Monaghan re-visited his old training ground at the Sea Eagles’ headquarters in Narrabeen with Super League club Warrington Wolves on Thursday.
The Wolves are in their first week of a three-week training camp in Australia that will see them visit four NRL clubs, having already trained with AFL giants Sydney Swans.
Monaghan, who played 95 matches for the Sea Eagles between 2004-07, is pleased of his former teammates’ success since departing at the end of the 2007 season.
Monaghan’s final game in Manly colours was that forgettable 2007 grand final defeat to the hands of the Storm, 34-8.
But despite the Sea Eagles going on to win the following year, the playmakers says he has no regrets since moving to the UK.
"It would have been nice to stay an extra 12 months and win a premiership, but I went to Warrington and won three Challenge Cups and a Lance Todd Trophy and played in a couple of grand finals," Monaghan said.
"Who knows what would have happened if I had stayed, but I'm just happy where I am now and it’s been good to see the boys have the success that they’ve had and I was able to come to two of their grand finals and watch the boys lift the trophy.
"I couldn’t have been happier for them and I still have a lot of really good mates here. The club is in a really strong position."
One of Monaghan’s good friends during his time at Manly, Steve Menzies, praised the 33-year-old for a wonderful career at the Sea Eagles.
Despite missing out on the 2008 premiership, Menzies commended Monaghan’s work previously for the Sea Eagles’ success the following year.
“Missing out by a year is a tough scenario,” Menzies said. “The win in '08 was probably prepared in '06, '07, '08, it’s not just a one-year thing when you win a grand final. He was a part of it but obviously didn’t play in the team. “
