As our senior representative program gets underway this year, we take a moment to recognise and farewell one of the most dedicated and impactful coaches in Manly Warringah Touch Association’s history — Matthew Scranage, who has chosen not to continue in a coaching position this season after almost 30 years of involvement with our club.
Matt’s journey with Manly Touch began in 1997 as a player, and what a journey it has been. He transitioned into coaching in 2010, starting with our Under 8s, and never really stopped. Over the years that followed, he quietly became one of the most influential figures in our coaching community — not just for the results he achieved, but for the way he went about achieving them.
On the field, his record speaks for itself. Matt guided the junior teams he was involved in to three Junior State Cup Grand Finals, and for the past nine years has poured himself into building our Men’s Opens program. That long-term investment paid off in remarkable fashion in 2025, when he led the team to their first Vawdon Cup Grand Final since 1985 — a moment that meant a great deal to everyone involved in our great club.
At regional and state representative level, Matt’s impact has been equally impressive. Coaching Scorpions Junior Regional teams and Men’s Opens, he has recently turned his attention to the women’s game as the current Scorpions Women’s Opens coach, after serving as Head Coach of the NSW Women’s 20s side, winning three State of Origin series in that role, and Assistant Coach of the NSW Women’s Opens, who won the 2025 State of Origin series.
But statistics and titles only tell part of the story. Matt has always prided himself on something harder to measure — culture. Throughout his time at Manly Touch, he has worked to ensure that every player has been given an equal opportunity to develop and succeed, based on performance and merit. That commitment to fairness and development is a hallmark of the environment Manly Touch has built, and Matt has been a significant part of why our club is so widely respected in the broader touch football community.
While we are sad to farewell Matt from his role here, we wish him every success as he takes on exciting new coaching challenges ahead. Manly Touch is better for everything he has given us, and his legacy will be felt in the players and teams he has shaped for years to come.
Thank you, Matt.