This comes up every year with Tom’s injury issues, but I think it’s more prominent than ever this year with DCE leaving at season’s end.
What is your take?
With the rumours of Fogarty signing… what’s everyone’s 2026 team look like? I still think we have a few gaps but this is where I’m sitting.
1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hopoate
6. Brooks
7. Fogarty
8. Paseka
9. Croker/Simpkin
10. NEW PLAYER
11. Haumole
12. NEW PLAYER
13. Jurbo
14...
Unfortunately, Brandy has nailed it…
Summary: Bully is our only good middle forward, the rest are not up to scratch except for Paseka who is out for the season.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/04/21/completely-outplayed-nrl-legend-calls-out-sea-eagles-forward-pack
Edit: changed to “middle”...
I’m a big fan of Koula and I think he’s a good centre.
However, it feels like there is SO much upside we’re not utilising. I think about the times he has played fullback with open space. Then there’s that amazing try against the Dogs in the finals last year.
How do we get him more space and...
Recent quotes from Mestrov state we would likely be interested in Payne Haas if he goes to market for the 2027 season, as we will have a lot of salary cap space becoming available.
I personally believe it’s a million to one shot for us to sign Haas, but what it does suggest is that Jake and...
There has been a lot of criticism on here about our hookers and a lack of recruitment in that area in recent years. Interestingly, I’ve seen Manly mentioned two times in relation to hookers recently. When Jayden Brailey signed with Canberra we got mentioned as being interested and now the same...
I did a quick search and surprisingly this guy doesn’t have his own thread yet.
What’s the feeling on his potential to turn into an NRL player? Based on the stats he appears to be a workhorse type backrower who tackles his heart out. I don’t mind that as a way to balance our team.
It was only a few seasons ago we were heavily criticised for our depth. If we got a couple of injuries in almost any position we were forced to bring in NSW Cup standard players and it would derail our season.
Credit to the club we have significantly improved in this area. It not only helps...
I was quite surprised when the Dragons signed Damien Cook. Jacob Liddle had his best season yet and started playing 80 minutes every week.
Most weeks he was the best on ground for the Dragons.
Seems crazy and unfair that he’ll end up being a bench hooker now.
It’s highly unlikely given our...
Rumours that the Knights need to offload talent for next year to get under the cap. Who would you like to see at Manly from their roster?
For mine, Dylan Lucas would be a great pickup. Quality backrower that wouldn’t break the bank...
Does it annoy anyone else that Beaver hasn’t been mentioned while giving DCE praise for becoming the most capped Manly player?
I love DCE and Cliffy, don’t get me wrong. But Steve Menzies had no choice when the Norther Eagles came into the comp. He never left our great club and played 349 NRL...
It looks like there are a some big selection decisions to be made!
Humphreys v GCKT for the 14 role, who gets the nod?
Burbo v Schuster for the left edge?
I’m really torn, I want them all in the team.
Who do you think will be Manly’s breakout star of 2024?
We don’t have many young guys in our top 30 and very few who haven’t debuted yet, so I thought I’d leave it open to interpretation rather than focusing on the rookie-factor.
For me, I’ve got a feeling we’ll start seeing the best of Burbo...
Where does everyone see Jamie Humphreys in our future?
I’ve always had high hopes for him in the halves, very talented and has the athletic attributes.
In recent seasons he seems to have been moved around a bit between the halves and hooker, and judging by the pre season photos he’s certainly...
It looks like his deal with the Dogs has stalled… I wonder if we would get in the mix.
Potentially a swap for Aloiai? At his best Taukeiaho is one of the top props, but potentially past it?
He’s 31, might have another 2 good years...
One criticism of our pack in recent years is it’s lacked mongrel and aggression. Since we lost AFB, Haumole has been the only guy who really takes it to the opposition.
Guys like Jake and Paseka are good players, but they’re too nice!
It seems we are trying to correct the balance with...
Unpopular opinion around these parts but I don’t believe hooker is such a big problem for us.
Have a look at the two grand final teams. Would you swap Croker for Walters or Kenny?
Maybe, maybe not. You certainly wouldn’t get a massive upgrade or revolutionary improvement in our side.
In fact...
It hurts me to finally crack and write something negative about Schuster. He seems like a great person with so much potential who I desperately want to succeed.
In saying that, the effort areas of Jacob Arthur and Ben Turbo have been a huge reason why we’ve looked like a better team in the last...
With lots of exciting young players coming through, I’m interested to see what everyone predicts our best 17 will be by the end of the 2023 season. Plenty of hard decisions to make but this is what I came up with:
Turbo
Saab
Koula
Parker
Garrick
Schuster
DCE
Jurbo
GCKT
Paseka
S. Fainu
Mole...
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