Sam Lane is our Head Coach of the Manly Marlins and brings a wealth of international playing and coaching experience to the Shute Shield competition. A former professional fly-half, Lane’s rugby journey has taken him across Australia, South Africa, and Italy, where he developed a reputation for tactical intelligence and leadership. Appointed in late 2024, Lane has quickly become a central figure in the Marlins’ high-performance culture. His coaching philosophy emphasises teamwork, resilience, and continuous development—values shaped by his own career and mentorship from his father, Tim Lane, a former Manly and Wallabies assistant coach. Under Lane’s guidance, we are building a competitive and community-driven squad, with a strong focus on player growth and club identity. His commitment to excellence and connection with the local rugby community makes him a standout leader for the club’s future.

Harry Fehily returns to the Manly bringing a wealth of coaching and leadership experience from both international and domestic rugby environments. Having previously served as an Assistant Coach at Manly, Harry has since built an impressive coaching résumé that includes roles with London Irish in the UK — where he worked as a Performance Analyst and Elite Player Development Coach — as well as Head Coach positions at University College London and St Mary’s University. His teams earned recognition for their high standards and strong results on and off the field. Back in Australia, Harry has coached across several Shute Shield clubs, including Eastwood and most recently Gordon, where he led the program as Director of Rugby and Head Coach. Renowned for his analytical approach, technical detail, and ability to build cohesive defensive systems, Harry is passionate about developing players and creating high-performance environments. His return to Manly marks an exciting new chapter for the club as he looks to drive standards, enhance player development, and deliver a resilient, connected brand of Marlins rugby.

Manly Marlins are proud to welcome club legend James Hilterbrand back to the fold as Scrum and Breakdown Coach for the 2026 season. A highly respected front-rower, Hilterbrand brings a wealth of experience from his professional career spanning Super Rugby with the NSW Waratahs, international rugby with the USA Eagles, and over a decade of service to the Marlins. Renowned for his technical knowledge, toughness, and leadership, James has long been a cornerstone of Manly’s culture both on and off the field. His deep understanding of set-piece play and the contact area will be invaluable as the club continues to build a dominant forward pack. Returning in a coaching capacity, Hilterbrand’s passion for developing players and driving standards embodies the Marlins spirit — hard-working, uncompromising, and proudly Manly.

With over 20 years of coaching experience, Craig has made a significant impact across multiple levels of rugby. His coaching journey includes 18 years with Newport Seniors and Juniors, 15 years with Warringah Juniors and Colts, 4 years with Barker College’s Top Squad and CAS Representative programs, and 4 years with the Waratahs Academies. Craig’s philosophy is centred on building a strong team culture driven by effort, respect, and mateship. He’s passionate about helping young players find their confidence, developing leadership qualities, and pushing senior athletes to reach their full potential. For Craig, rugby has always been about more than the game itself – it’s about good footy, good mates, and being part of something bigger than himself. That’s exactly what he believes the Manly Marlins represent.

A former tight-head prop with a 13-year professional rugby career—and five seasons in First Grade with the Marlins—Tim brings a wealth of expertise in set-piece and forward play. Over his Super Rugby tenure with the Hurricanes (2003-2009) he made 59 appearances. He also represented provincial sides such as Wellington, registering more than 60 domestic appearances. Later he played in the English Premiership for Harlequins and in Australia for the Western Force. Passionate about scrummaging and mentoring, he looks forward to supporting the Marlins and Mermaids across all grades and working closely with the coaches. Tim has a young family and lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Dave Kennett is an experienced Athletic Development Coach with over 15 years in the high-performance sports industry. A former Manly Marlins player, Dave has served as Head of Strength & Conditioning at the Club for the past three seasons, leading the design and delivery of comprehensive athletic performance programs for senior and emerging players. Holding an undergraduate degree in Human Movement and an Honours Degree in Sport Science, Dave combines academic expertise with practical experience in elite rugby environments. He currently works with the NSW Waratahs Academy Program in an athletic performance role, supporting the physical development of future professional players. Throughout his career, Dave has contributed to multiple elite programs, including the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (NRL) and the Cronulla Sharks, where he played a role in player preparation and conditioning. He has also led the athlete development at the Shore School, overseeing long-term physical development programs across rugby and other sports. Passionate about athlete performance, welfare, and sustainable development, Dave continues to apply evidence-based coaching methods to help athletes reach their peak potential both on and off the field.

Jackson played over 10 years at Eastwood, playing over 150 games and becoming the 2nd highest points scorer in club history. His playing days also included representing the Australian Barbarians and captaining Australian Universities 7s to a silver medal at the World University Games in Namibia. While still playing grade rugby, he coached top age group level teams at schoolboy level before transitioning into grade coaching. Last year he led Manly 2nd grade to a minor premiership and grand final appearance, the result of which added extra motivation to return this year and go one better.

Originally from England, Jack moved to Australia in 2014 and found his home on the Northern Beaches. After a union career that included stints with Bedford Blues, Ampthill, Old Albanians, and his hometown club Leighton Buzzard, Jack switched codes upon relocating and played rugby league for five years. A fiercely competitive individual with a relentless drive to win, Jack is extremely passionate about player development both as athletes and as people and is dedicated to helping players maximize their potential on and off the field. Jack is extremely excited to be part of the Manly Rugby community, working alongside a talented group of coaches and players, and looks forward to contributing to a successful season and helping return premiership success to the Marlins’ valued members and supporters.