Manly have been a terrific club for a really long time, and they have historically been terrific to their players, and until recently very few players they want leave, and even after they go, they are still part of the "family". This has been the corner stone to their success.
Ill tell a story that for me says alot about the club.
A young lower grade player who was signed to the club on an ARL junior player deal, but was outside the top squad, so was unable to play in the Super league year. Manly were very accommodating of the situation and let the player him play rugby and supported him in doing so, even allowing him to sign rugby contracts.
The club kept in contact, kept him involved in the club and a key official even went and watched him play.
Down the track they even let him use a club physio for an injury outside of playing for the club. That sort of stuff garners loyalty not only from that player but other players at the club. That is how they have kept together (until now) such a loyal bunch of players who keep turning up for the club.
I respect Manly, and think we could do worse than model ourselves on them.