Trent Barrett has urged Manly fans not to turn their back on his players as the Sea Eagles stare down the barrel of their worst season of average crowds at Brookvale in more than 50 years.
Manly fans were again given no clarity on Barrett's future on Thursday morning, as the coach apologised for being told by the club not to speak on the matter for legal reasons.
The Sea Eagles play their last home game of the season against the Gold Coast on Friday at 6pm - the timeslot where they pulled crowds of just 4,189 and 5,715 in their only two home matches over the past two years.
In fairness, both those games were against the out-of-town Newcastle with rain around on both evenings.
But Manly's average crowd at their traditional base of Brookvale this year is just 8,880 - on track to be their lowest at the ground since 1966 when excluding the Northern Eagles' three years, according to League Information Services.
And while Barrett conceded not just fans were frustrated by the uncertainty at Manly and the lack of clear answers, he asked the club's supporters to turn out in numbers for his players after two straight wins.
"It's not the players' fault, and you've got some players in there who are extremely passionate about the club," he said.
"I'd certainly hate for anyone to turn on the team in the dressing sheds.
"This is none of their doing. There are some terrific young players in there and our only right of reply is to come out and win tomorrow night."
Crowds at Brookvale have gradually declined since they sat at above 15,000 midway through last decade, and the figures do not count attendances at home matches played elsewhere.
Barrett has kept his players in the loop on the matter of his own future as speculation mounts he'll leave the club upset at a lack of resources, in a particularly trying year.
In a topsy-turvy season, Manly have beaten top-eight sides Melbourne, Brisbane, Cronulla and Penrith and could have had second wins against the Storm and Panthers recently if not for late comebacks.
BROOKVALE'S WORST YEAR'S OF CROWDS SINCE 1966:
* 1966: 6080
* 2018: 8880^
* 1985: 9365
* 1969: 9670
* 1968: 9987
^ One game still to play
**Excludes Northern Eagles years (2000-2002)
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