Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans won Manly's 2011 NRL premiership as the youngest and least experienced halves pairing to claim the title.
Cherry-Evans was in his debut season, while Foran had played 57 NRL matches before the final. They shared 190 games from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2022.
After communication broke down over a contract extension that could have kept Cherry-Evans at Manly for his entire career, he considered other options.
He joined the Sydney Roosters and won a premiership in his only season with the club.
Manly's coach at the time was Anthony Seibold, with Tony Mestrov as CEO; both have since left. Former teammates Foran and Jason King later took those respective positions.
Speaking on SEN, Cherry-Evans said of Foran's appointment: "I'm glad it happened after I left,"
He said the timing could have changed his decision: "I only say that because if it had happened during the period of me considering staying and going. I don't think I would have gone.
"We are talking about one of my best mates (who) has become coach. We've got such a strong relationship. I felt like we would, if needed to, have complimented each other really well.
Foran moved to the Gold Coast Titans after their playing partnership ended in 2022.