Tah Talk with Joel Foster is back for another week as we begin to get in the depths of season properr.
This week, Joel looks at the girls gearing up for the season this weekend, profile’s overseas recruits Amy Hunter and Freddie Price, and shows how much we love Adam Searle.
A big thank you once again to Scott MacNeill and the team at Gibson MacNeill Lawyers for their partnership with this season. If you have any legal needs, no matter the size, visit them at www.gibsonmacneill.com.au
Chelsea leads a fresh start
It’s a big weekend for the club as our women get their 2026/27 season underway with a triple header at Manly Oval on Sunday. I’m really looking forward to seeing them back out there.
A new season brings a fresh opportunity, particularly after a disappointing year for our Women’s 1st Grade side. Last summer didn’t deliver the results, but it gave some young players great opportunity to hone their craft. There is enormous confidence across the club in Chelsea McLerie and her team to climb back towards the top of the ladder.
Chelsea deserves plenty of recognition for her captaincy. Leading a side through a difficult season is a challenge, and the captain often carries more of that disappointment than anyone else. It takes character to keep bringing a group together and looking ahead.
She has the full backing of everyone at Manly Warringah.
We believe in Chelsea’s leadership, we believe in the talent around her, and we believe this team can get back to playing the cricket that has made our women’s program so exciting to follow.
That won’t happen in one afternoon. It comes through consistent performances, backing each other through the tough periods and taking opportunities when they arrive. But there is every reason to approach this season with confidence.
The opening weekend again Northern Districts and Parramatta is a chance to start building that momentum. Across all our women’s grades, there will be players eager to make their mark and teammates ready to help them do it.
Good luck to Chelsea and the whole Women’s playing group. Everyone at the club is right behind you.
Hunter and Price Join the Tahs
There is also plenty of excitement around the arrival of Amy Hunter for our women and Freddie Price for our men.
Amy comes to us as an Irish international wicketkeeper-batter with some remarkable achievements already behind her. In 2021, she scored an unbeaten 121 against Zimbabwe on her 16th birthday, becoming the youngest player, male or female, to score an international century. That is a fairly decent birthday present.
She brings an attacking approach with the bat and valuable experience from international cricket. Having someone with that background alongside our players is an exciting prospect, particularly for the younger girls who can learn from the way she prepares and approaches the game.
Freddie arrives with plenty to look forward to as well, having recently signed a rookie contract with Sussex for their 2027 season.
The 19-year-old all-rounder earned that opportunity after playing six matches in this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, taking a wicket in every appearance and finishing with seven wickets overall. He also finished the campaign with 37 off 31 balls, showing what he can offer with the bat.
A summer of Premier Cricket will give him a chance to develop his game in Australian conditions before heading home to take that next step with Sussex.
For both Amy and Freddie, we want their time here to be rewarding on and off the field. Overseas players become a big part of club life, and some of the best things about these seasons are the friendships that continue long after the flight home.
A big welcome to both of them. We’re looking forward to seeing what they bring to the Waratahs.
Everyone Loves Searle
There wouldn’t be many people around the club who weren’t delighted to see Adam Searle make his 1st Grade debut this season.
Everyone loves Adam. It’s as simple as that.
Some selections make the player and their family proud. This was one that had teammates across the grades smiling.
Coming from thge UK a few years ago, Adam has worked his way from 5th Grade all the way to 1st Grade. That is something worth celebrating properly. Each step means earning another opportunity, adapting to a higher standard and proving you can contribute again.
It’s a terrific example for anyone coming into the club through the lower grades, no matter where you were born. There is a pathway there, and Adam’s journey shows what is possible when you keep working at your game.
He also picked up his first 1st Grade wicket in the season opener against Mosman, giving him another milestone to remember from the day.
But what makes this particularly special is how much everyone wants him to succeed. He is one of those players whose achievements are enjoyed well beyond the XI he happens to be playing in.
You can be sure there will be plenty of people following his progress this summer, and every contribution will have a fair few supporters behind it.
Well done, Adam. You’ve earned your opportunity, and the whole club is rapt for you.
Go Manly!
