2025 Bolter

[Ohgeez]

The 2024 Bolter for us was clearly Lehi Hopoate, I don’t think anyone was expecting him to come into 1st grade & be this good so early into his career, fair to say he has cemented himself a spot in the 17 starting next season.

With Walsh, Large, Muagututia, Willett all signed + having Mafoa, Navale, Laiafi & a some others I’ve definitely forgot to mention id like to see everyone’s early prediction / Guesses for who will have earned a spot in the 17 come the end of next season. I think the safe option is definitely Navale, but with DCE’s age I’d love to see Walsh or Large banging on the door at the backend of the year & potentially grabbing the 14 spot. Or could it be a forgotten player like Arthur has a big off season back from injury & helps our problems with lock/back row.
What’s everyone’s bold prediction?

(Saw this on another site & thought it would be some off season fun, no wrong answers as it’s just early predictions)

 

[Under the Sticks]

Apparently J Arthur was the off season trainer of the year in 2024 so the untimely injury robbed him of progress. Would like to see him step up in the short term as the others are longer prospects.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Apparently J Arthur was the off season trainer of the year in 2024 so the untimely injury robbed him of progress. Would like to see him step up in the short term as the others are longer prospects.

Agree , of those mentioned , maybe Navale or Arthur , the rest , too early I think

 

[Stewbojevic]

Love this thread…

Chris Patolo is my smokey but I’d also love to see Simpkins blow it out of the water

 

[Dion Johnson]

The 2024 Bolter for us was clearly Lehi Hopoate, I don’t think anyone was expecting him to come into 1st grade & be this good so early into his career, fair to say he has cemented himself a spot in the 17 starting next season.

With Walsh, Large, Muagututia, Willett all signed + having Mafoa, Navale, Laiafi & a some others I’ve definitely forgot to mention id like to see everyone’s early prediction / Guesses for who will have earned a spot in the 17 come the end of next season. I think the safe option is definitely Navale, but with DCE’s age I’d love to see Walsh or Large banging on the door at the backend of the year & potentially grabbing the 14 spot. Or could it be a forgotten player like Arthur has a big off season back from injury & helps our problems with lock/back row.
What’s everyone’s bold prediction?

(Saw this on another site & thought it would be some off season fun, no wrong answers as it’s just early predictions)

@SeaEagleRock8 had a thread for 2024,

Post in thread 'Manly's 2024 surprise packet'
Manly's 2024 surprise packet

I thought Hoppa, though I had some good information on how well he did in the pre-season, looking at 2024 I thought Tommy Talau and Hoppa were pretty even, though I think the form of Talau really surprised those in the know at the club.

Hard one to call for 2025 with the squad not finalised, at this stage I am hoping Jake Simpkin has a huge offseason and gets to start the year in the nine jumper.

A real bolter Oliver Lawry..

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

@SeaEagleRock8 had a thread for 2024,

Post in thread 'Manly's 2024 surprise packet'
Manly's 2024 surprise packet

I thought Hoppa, though I had some good information on how well he did in the pre-season, looking at 2024 I thought Tommy Talau and Hoppa were pretty even, though I think the form of Talau really surprised those in the know at the club.

Hard one to call for 2025 with the squad not finalised, at this stage I am hoping Jake Simpkin has a huge offseason and gets to start the year in the nine jumper.

A real bolter Oliver Lawry..

Well done! You've established your credentials by being the only one who nominated Lehi (or maybe just the credentials of the person who gave you the info)
But either way I'll now be interested to follow the progress of Simpkin (and also Lawry, who I never even heard of) 🤷‍♂️

 

[Dion Johnson]

Well done! You've established your credentials by being the only one who nominated Lehi (or maybe just the credentials of the person who gave you the info)
But either way I'll now be interested to follow the progress of Simpkin (and also Lawry, who I never even heard of) 🤷‍♂️

Yeh I can’t take the credit for Lehi, a mate of mine who follows the juniors has been talking him up the last two years and he had a good offseason.

Hopefully a few others improve and meet their respective KPI’s in the offseason.

Humphries had a big offseason last year but didn’t get that many opportunities.

 

[Frogz]

Garrick should have a break out season on the wing!!!!

 

[eaglebuzz]

Simpkin is the player I really hope steps up.

We aren't winning a premiership with Croker at 9 but until Siebold is forced to recognise that he'll be in the side.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Not with us anymore, but I'm going to say Jamie Humphreys at the Bunnies. I think he was underrated here and will prove to be a very capable half.

For us, I hope it'll be Navale, although I'd love a quality dummy half to emerge from the shadows. Don't care if it's Simpkin, Gordie or The Loch Ness Monster at this point - I'll take anyone or anything!

 

[manly al]

Not with us anymore, but I'm going to say Jamie Humphreys at the Bunnies. I think he was underrated here and will prove to be a very capable half.

For us, I hope it'll be Navale, although I'd love a quality dummy half to emerge from the shadows. Don't care if it's Simpkin, Gordie or The Loch Ness Monster at this point - I'll take anyone or anything!

Might be one or two humps for the Loch Ness monster to overcome before he can make a splash as a 9

 

[manly al]

Is that N Q Cowboy's backrower who was apparently in a swap deal with Paulo still coming to Manly?
Reckon that Schoupp could do quite well on an edge if given an opportunity there .
Not necessarily in the bolter category or likely but may have most of the requirements to transition well there .
Simpkin probably only needs some minor improvements to his game to get to a better level .
Pleasing that there seems a heap of young guns ready to bring through and develop .
Navale , i am sure will be given every opportunity to try and establish himself as a genuine i st grader

 

[Disco]

Not intending to be a downer but I dont think will have a real bolter burst through in 2025.

That in on itself does not mean we are doomed.

I think some of our more established players like Lehi, Koula, Talau, Bully and Paseka...even Burbo will all continue to edge forward, they will all be some level f better than last year.

I think Simpkin and Navale will have greater roles to play.

Arthur will be back filling in at 1st grade level.

Whilst Large, Walsh, Laiafi, Mafoa are all probably longer terms plays, 2026 or beyond. Anyoe of them could grab a debut but I think not a meaningful breakout.

 

[CRPSI eagle]

Garrick should have a break out season on the wing!!!!

Who do you drop to accomodate Garrick?

 

[Frogz]

Who do you drop to accomodate Garrick?

Move Talau back to centres. Anyone is better than Garrick in that position. I believe we are still 1 good quality centre down in our squad.

 

[Disco]

I think Lehi could transition to centre in the long term.

Dont see centre as a position we need to recruit

 

[Dion Johnson]

Move Talau back to centres. Anyone is better than Garrick in that position. I believe we are still 1 good quality centre down in our squad.

Talau and Koula for me in the centres, plenty of depth at the club in the three quarter line, problem is a fair whack of the cap is tied up there.

For me they could shop a player from the three quarter line to get a decent backrower or middle.