Waddell thrives in his return to Manly with a secret ingredient.
Corey Waddell came through the doors at 4 Pines Park and immediately felt the love, with his teammates overjoyed to have one of their own return home to Brookvale.
Three years after leaving the Sea Eagles to join the Bulldogs, the 27-year-old returned to the Northern Beaches to the precise reaction he had hoped for – a sign that, while much has changed at Manly, one critical factor has not.
The club has long been notorious for its ‘us against the world’ mindset, with rival fans’ hate fueling the squad’s quest for an NRL premiership.
Waddell understands how important such a mindset is for success, and he believes the Sea Eagles have the right foundation for a finals run.
“We’re a really tight bunch of mates,” Waddell told NRL.com. “Off the pitch, we all enjoy each other’s company, like spending time together, and encourage one another to do our best.
“We know that when we’re hard on each other on the paddock, it’s coming from a positive place, and we all push each other to do our best.
“That comes from the off-field connection we’ve built in the off-season by hanging out with each other, enjoying each other’s company and becoming mates.”
Waddell has impressed since his return to Manly, appearing in all nine games to begin the season and starting the last four.
He will again line up on the edge for Thursday night’s game against the Dolphins in Brisbane, where the Sea Eagles will try to recover from a shocking loss to the Raiders.
Waddell believes he has returned to Manly as a greater player than when he went, having improved both on and off the pitch while with the Bulldogs.
While he hopes to keep his starting berth, the Sea Eagles have plenty of competition in the back row. Ben Trbojevic returns from injury this weekend, while Haumole Olakau’atu is due to return from a two-game suspension for the Magic Round next week.
Waddell is convinced that he can contribute both on and off the pitch, regardless of the role.
“I’ve learnt so much throughout my career,” he stated. “I learned a lot throughout my time at the Bulldogs, as well as during my previous stint here.
“Talking with Seibs before signing here was extremely inspiring for me. I’m really excited to have a successful year this year; I knew our team was pretty stable, and I thought I could contribute.
“My goal was to contribute what I do on the pitch to the squad, and I believe I’ve accomplished that. My aim was to make round one, to be a part of it, and to now be starting is very amazing. I want to continue building on that and winning more games.”
Waddell has adjusted back into life on the Northern Beaches wonderfully, having relocated to Narrabeen and recently adopting a dog.
He lives just a few blocks away from his sister, who is engaged to teammate Jake Trbojevic, demonstrating the club’s strong family values.
Waddell signed a one-year contract with the Sea Eagles for the 2024 season, and given how well he’s settled in, he wants to extend his
“I haven’t really looked beyond this year,” he replied. “Hopefully, I can secure something relatively soon. I enjoy being here and have returned several times; I have familial links to this club.
“I’ve enjoyed playing under Seibs; I’ve learned a lot from him, and he’s taught me stuff I’d never learned before, which has been quite beneficial. I’d like to stay here and settle something out in the following weeks, and I simply want to focus on my football.”
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