It was over coffee that the 30-year-old Green – who will join his fifth NRL club and seventh professional outfit in 11 years – realised the Cherry-Evans partnership could be a fruitful one as Manly seek to forget Barrett's tough NRL head coaching initiation in 2016.

Saddled with five different halves partners during a troubled season, Cherry-Evans will arguably be happiest with the arrival of Green who was the yin to Dally M medallist Cooper Cronk's yang as Melbourne came within a whisker of this year's title.

"I haven't been training with them yet, but I've sat down and had a coffee with [Cherry-Evans] and we get along really well which for a halves partnership is important," Green said after pulling on the Sea Eagles colours for the first time this week.

"We've touched on a few things. It's certainly a difficult job playing in the halves and then having different combinations a few times during the year and the disruptions were tough for him.

"He's a natural footy player 'Chez' and if I can take some pressure off him directing the team around and kicking the ball well on my side of the field it will allow him to just play what he sees and that's what he needs."

Barrett also needed a steady hand at No.6 after using Dylan Walker, who will revert back to the centres, the retired Jamie Lyon, Pita Godinet, Matt Wright and Api Koroisau at five-eighth during the season.

A raw Green featured in the halves alongside Barrett on several occasions during the 2009 season when both were at the Sharks – Barrett's final stop during an illustrious career – and it was the urgings of the now coach to take a leadership role at Manly that triggered Green's move.

"He just stressed at this stage of my career this was the next step for me and being a leader of a team he wanted me to have a say in how we play and ... to have a No.6 on the pitch for him," Green said.

"I was only 22 at the time [I played with Barrett] and I loved it. He was a player I looked up to as a kid and being a big No.6 myself I like running the footy and that was the thing about him with his big frame, he loved taking the line on.

"His really calm temperament as a player ... he's taken with him to the coaching aspect of the game. I've only been in for a few sessions with him so far, but I really like the way he addresses [the players] – he's really clear and direct and everyone is under no illusions what he wants."

Green's arrival at Brookvale will headline a handy cast of summer recruits, including out-of-favour former Newcastle flyer Akuila Uate and ex-Tigers back-rower Curtis Sironen.

"They've got a group that needs to start again and with the experience that I've built up in the last few years it will bring them a leader," Green said.

"I've had the luxury of training and playing with some really experienced leaders and going down to Melbourne with potentially three Immortals who obviously know what they're doing and Craig [Bellamy] at the helm as well ... you lead with your actions to create that culture."