Club News 2025
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Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
From Adrian Proszenko, SMH:
Why Seibold shifted Trbojevic and won’t drop Cherry-Evans as skipper
By Adrian Proszenko
June 26, 2025 — 10.00am
Manly coach Anthony Seibold says the decision to shift Tom Trbojevic into the centres “wasn’t a punishment” and revealed Daly Cherry-Evans addressed the playing group about his decision to leave the club.
Seibold comes into Friday’s clash with Wests Tigers under pressure after his side lost three of their past four games to drop out of the top eight. The coach has shown he’s not afraid to make big calls, dropping several stars to reserve grade in the bye week and shifting Trbojevic from fullback to the centres, allowing Lehi Hopoate to wear the No.1 jersey.
It’s been a tumultuous time at Brookvale, with rumours swirling about the future of Seibold due to the discrepancy between his team’s best and worst performances.
Trbojevic has been struggling for form, evidenced by his inability to make the NSW team. However, Seibold insists the positional switch isn’t a penalty and will only be temporary.
“Well, first of all, I’ll say it wasn’t a punishment. I don’t know what the take has been on it externally, but it’s not a punishment,” Seibold said.
“It’s around helping ‘Turbo’ find a little bit of confidence without worrying about the team. As a fullback you have to worry about the line organisation. You have to worry about the secondary side of an attack. And I feel for Turbo, [it’s about] going about himself and playing with a bit of flow and and enjoying footy again and competing, without having the organisational skills, which he is unreal at.
“It’s just about taking a little bit of pressure off him. And it’s also about recognising and rewarding Lehi Hopoate.
“We’ve missed him the last two games. He got knocked out trying to score a try about three or four minutes into the Knights game a couple of weeks ago. But prior to that, he’s been in great form. So it’s about allowing Turbo to play with a bit of freedom and flow. And he is the Australian Kangaroos centre.
“He’s done that at the highest level and he’ll do a good job.”
Coach of the Manly-Warringah Sea-Eagles, Anthony Seibold, addresses media at club headquarters at Brookvale on Thursday.CREDIT: SAM MOOY
Manly’s dip in form, along with that of Cherry-Evans, has coincided with revelations he won’t be at the club beyond this season. Like Trbojevic, “DCE” has been overlooked for Origin after being dropped following game one.
Seibold said that, as partly of weekly “campfire chats” in which individuals open up to the playing group, Cherry-Evans had explained his reasons for finishing up at the Sea Eagles.
“I thought ‘Chez’ explained and summed it up really well,” Seibold said.
“He wanted to give the club plenty of time to find a replacement, which we were able to do - find a really high quality replacement because Chez has been the No.7 here for such a long time - 14 and 15 seasons and done a fabulous job.
And he just wants some time to work out what he wants to do next. I don’t see how there’s anything sinister around that. People have always got opinions. Some people might want him to come out and say it, some people don’t. Ultimately, it doesn’t affect how we prepare to play the West Tigers and that’s all my focus is on - how we prepare and play ball tomorrow night.”
Seibold denied reports that he had spoken to Cherry-Evans about the prospect of stripping him of the captaincy.
“Never, not once. I’ve never thought about that,” Seibold said.
“I don’t make decisions lightly and if you look at a couple of case studies, the last person in Chez’s position to say that he’s not going to stay at a club was Adam Reynolds’ in 2021 and Souths stayed the course with Adam; he was their skipper, he did a great job and they ended up making the grand final.
“I don’t see the need to change. Chez is our leader. I’ve said that publicly a number of times. So I’m not sure where that suggestion has come from.”
Why Seibold shifted Trbojevic and won’t drop Cherry-Evans as skipper
By Adrian Proszenko
June 26, 2025 — 10.00am
Manly coach Anthony Seibold says the decision to shift Tom Trbojevic into the centres “wasn’t a punishment” and revealed Daly Cherry-Evans addressed the playing group about his decision to leave the club.
Seibold comes into Friday’s clash with Wests Tigers under pressure after his side lost three of their past four games to drop out of the top eight. The coach has shown he’s not afraid to make big calls, dropping several stars to reserve grade in the bye week and shifting Trbojevic from fullback to the centres, allowing Lehi Hopoate to wear the No.1 jersey.
It’s been a tumultuous time at Brookvale, with rumours swirling about the future of Seibold due to the discrepancy between his team’s best and worst performances.
Trbojevic has been struggling for form, evidenced by his inability to make the NSW team. However, Seibold insists the positional switch isn’t a penalty and will only be temporary.
“Well, first of all, I’ll say it wasn’t a punishment. I don’t know what the take has been on it externally, but it’s not a punishment,” Seibold said.
“It’s around helping ‘Turbo’ find a little bit of confidence without worrying about the team. As a fullback you have to worry about the line organisation. You have to worry about the secondary side of an attack. And I feel for Turbo, [it’s about] going about himself and playing with a bit of flow and and enjoying footy again and competing, without having the organisational skills, which he is unreal at.
“It’s just about taking a little bit of pressure off him. And it’s also about recognising and rewarding Lehi Hopoate.
“We’ve missed him the last two games. He got knocked out trying to score a try about three or four minutes into the Knights game a couple of weeks ago. But prior to that, he’s been in great form. So it’s about allowing Turbo to play with a bit of freedom and flow. And he is the Australian Kangaroos centre.
“He’s done that at the highest level and he’ll do a good job.”
Coach of the Manly-Warringah Sea-Eagles, Anthony Seibold, addresses media at club headquarters at Brookvale on Thursday.CREDIT: SAM MOOY
Manly’s dip in form, along with that of Cherry-Evans, has coincided with revelations he won’t be at the club beyond this season. Like Trbojevic, “DCE” has been overlooked for Origin after being dropped following game one.
Seibold said that, as partly of weekly “campfire chats” in which individuals open up to the playing group, Cherry-Evans had explained his reasons for finishing up at the Sea Eagles.
“I thought ‘Chez’ explained and summed it up really well,” Seibold said.
“He wanted to give the club plenty of time to find a replacement, which we were able to do - find a really high quality replacement because Chez has been the No.7 here for such a long time - 14 and 15 seasons and done a fabulous job.
And he just wants some time to work out what he wants to do next. I don’t see how there’s anything sinister around that. People have always got opinions. Some people might want him to come out and say it, some people don’t. Ultimately, it doesn’t affect how we prepare to play the West Tigers and that’s all my focus is on - how we prepare and play ball tomorrow night.”
Seibold denied reports that he had spoken to Cherry-Evans about the prospect of stripping him of the captaincy.
“Never, not once. I’ve never thought about that,” Seibold said.
“I don’t make decisions lightly and if you look at a couple of case studies, the last person in Chez’s position to say that he’s not going to stay at a club was Adam Reynolds’ in 2021 and Souths stayed the course with Adam; he was their skipper, he did a great job and they ended up making the grand final.
“I don’t see the need to change. Chez is our leader. I’ve said that publicly a number of times. So I’m not sure where that suggestion has come from.”
The Who
Journey Man
I still can't forgive DCE for the way he announced his decision -- unilaterally and without wearing Manly merch. I don't buy the 'explanation' that it gave the club time to find a replacement; that is simply trying to paint him as considerate to the club. Rubbish!
Any announcement should have been made in conjunction with the club.
DCE has disrespected the club and we fans. As great a player as he has been he'll never be thought about with the warmth we reserve for our true legends.
Any announcement should have been made in conjunction with the club.
DCE has disrespected the club and we fans. As great a player as he has been he'll never be thought about with the warmth we reserve for our true legends.
The thing is, he should have had the decency to just hand it down to Jake or whoever
Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
You’re right. The coach however is trying to minimise the damage and in the process try and save his own career.
The '47ers
Your resident two-headed Queenslander
The falling out that cost Manly their $1m halfback prodigy https://share.google/rRrslEUAxBOsG5TL7
Can some very kind person make this so I can read it please?
I’m pretty sure it’s already posted in the thread another manly stuff up. It’s nothing new, I feel like we see basically see the same article every time we play tigers now 😂
The rise of Latu Fainu: How Manly lost future halfback to the Wests Tigers
Latu Fainu was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles and a replacement for Daly Cherry-Evans, until his relationship with Manly turned sour. Now he could come back to haunt his old club.
Brent Read@brentread_7
5 min read
June 26, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/UwlHg/again?url=...ory/41c5ef1c5405d1a994d5aa3d8167d642#comments
NRL: The 9th annual beanie for brain cancer round has officially been launched in a bid to raise funds to find a cure for the disease.
Wests Tigers forward Samuela Fainu has revealed his personal torment at seeing his younger brother Latu go through injury hell and his pride at seeing him fight back as the Fainu family prepare to take centre stage against former club Manly on Friday night.
Latu Fainu has missed a multitude of games over the past two seasons through injury, the most serious a hamstring concern that shook his confidence and had many doubting whether he would ever reach his enormous potential.
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As Latu prepares to start alongside Tigers superstar Jarome Luai for the first time, Samuela revealed the depths of despair his brother had overcome to give himself a shot at becoming a permanent fixture in the halves.
“Some days he wouldn’t even come out of his room,” Samuela Fainu said.
“I wouldn’t see him eat some days but like I said, he got through it and that will make him a stronger person. Yeah he’s been through a lot for a couple of years now.
“But now it’s helped him off the field mentally and I can see a difference in him every day. I’m just super proud of him.”
Wests Tigers' Latu Fainu has struggled with injury for years but has finally got his chance to win the No.7 jersey long term. Picture: NRL Photos
Asked what advice he had given his brother as he waged war with his body, Samuela said: “Everyone goes through their fair share of adversity in life. I just told him, once you get over it, you will be happier.
“Seeing him get his opportunity shows that it really made him as a person.”
THE PRODIGY
As a teenager, the youngest of the Fainu brothers was considered a sure thing. A can’t miss. Manly had him on their books and handed him a deal worth in excess of $1 million when he was just 16.He was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles but the relationship between the Fainu's and Manly turned sour when officials fell out with then-recruitment boss Scott Fulton.
Fulton had discovered the Fainu's and taken them to Manly. When Fulton moved to the Wests Tigers, and Manly needed to free up some salary cap space, the Fainu's became expendable.
Samuela Fainu (right) and Latu (left) during their time at the Manly Sea Eagles. Picture: Richard Dobson
“It was definitely hard,” Samuela Fainu said.
“We just went through some things that we can’t talk about. Us leaving Manly really hit us. Right now we’re just living in the present, not living in the past or future.
“That’s what’s making us happy.”
Along with older brother Sione, the Fainu's are at the forefront of attempts to revive the Tigers. Results haven’t always gone their way this season but the signs are encouraging.
They loss to Canberra last weekend was a snapshot of their season. The Tigers got off to a slow start but showed plenty of pluck and courage to give themselves a shot at victory, only to fall agonisingly short.
This article contains features which are only available in the web versionTake me there
Latu Fainu was pivotal. Having entered the fray, the 20-year-old almost inspired a Tigers win. No-one at the Tigers – or Manly for that matter – was surprised. He never played first grade for the Sea Eagles but his reputation preceded him.
“I’ve always seen that talent,” Manly prop Toa Sipley said.
“He’s always been a player from the small time that I got to do a pre-season with him, a very talented kid. Always needed his hands on the ball for sure.
“It’s just good to see him getting his the limelight now I guess.
Fainu was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles, before falling out with the club. Picture: Manly Media
THE SPONGE
Jarome Luai didn’t know a lot about Latu Fainu when he arrived at the Wests Tigers, but one performance was etched in his memory.Luai had watched Fainu playing a starring role alongside Samuela for the NSW under 19 side two years ago.
“That was my first experience of him and what he was capable of,” Luai said.
“I’d like to say I was a pretty big fan after watching that game of him and Samuela. So other than that I didn’t see much or you have much to do with him.
“But before I even came in here, all the boys were talking him up especially Api (Koroisau). He’s been a bit unlucky so if can string a few games together, some 80 minutes performances and get a feel for the game and what NRL first grade is about, he will kill it bro.”
Samuela (right) and Latu Fainu (left) celebrate after winning the 2019 U19s State of Origin clash for NSW. Picture: NRL Imagery
Latu hasn’t been afraid to seek out Luai for advice. Luai, in turn, has been happy to share his experiences.
“He comes up to me a fair bit, like one-on-one,” Luai said.
“He’s not that guy to sort of really speak in meetings and things like that, which you expect from a young dude. But the fact that he’s come up to me – the first couple of weeks I was here he probably did it the most, to be honest, out of anyone.
“He was trying to learn and pick my brain and my experiences and what he thinks he can help his game. That’s when I really knew he wants to be a good player.
“That’s all you really want from a young dude? Just guys, you want to learn, you want to be at their best. I think that’s the best way to learn is to just pick brains from people who have been through some stuff.
“I’m here for him bro. I’m here to help him be his best.”
Fainu has been watching his premiership winning halves partner Jarome Luai and trying to pick his brain. Picture: Getty Images
HEADING HOME
In the eyes of many, Friday night will be a glimpse into the future for the Tigers. Following Lachlan Galvin’s departure and the failure to sign Brisbane veteran Adam Reynolds, Fainu is now favoured to become a long-term halves partner for Luai.“He’s a real conservative I think personality,” Luai said.
“But he sort of has this characteristic where you know, he’s going to get the job done. He just goes about his work, doesn’t say much, but he just goes after blokes in defence.
“That’s a sort of like a bit of a trigger to know that this guy is a football player, you know what I mean? He goes after the contact.
“He’s got that quiet passive aggression about him. Like I said it doesn’t say much but he takes it all in. He’s real intelligent as well with the cues around the game and things like that.
Fainu will take on his former team, when the Wests Tigers take on Manly in Round 17. Picture: Getty Images
“He is a real prospect of the game, and he’s go so much for footy in front of him. So hopefully you can stay on the field. I can’t really speak on his behalf about what he’s gone through and I’ve been pretty lucky with injuries, touch wood.
“But I know the footy that he has played is pretty crazy, especially from someone who’s been out for long periods of time. “He’s young, he hasn’t had much training, hasn’t had much game time as well. So to come out here this year and play like he has, I think he is exactly what our team needs.”
Having watched this younger brother plumb the depths of rugby league, Samuela Fainu’s only hope is that he can string together some games and become the player many had predicted.
“I just hope he has a good run in footy,” Samuela said.
“He’s a freak of a talent. I just hope he does his thing and goes well in it.”
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