Heres a Positive - Good young players 2026

[maxta]

I see Zaidas Muagututia as a Top 17 option in 2026 and off the bench as an exciting strike dummy half....has enough natural strength to maybe play at 13, but that's a season or 2 off.....very good player.
Joey Walsh is a definite who will see plenty of action.
Hart is a strike backrower with speed, but feel will take time, definitely potential is there.
Young Laiafe is a big front rower designed for impact and could also see some action with a big off season.
We have the Large bros also with only Anitoni a realistic shot to see the field in 2026
There are a few more also, but I see this as exciting with 1 - 2 almost a certain show to play regular NRL footy and it's something we can get a bit excited about after a drab season in 2025.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The youngsters are our future , and I’m not against looking around for a few with lots of potential that can’t get starts at other clubs , it’s a roll of the dice but we do t have that much to lose.

 

[manlyfan76]

Need at least two of them to handle playing NRL against bigger stronger opponents than NSW cup.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Need at least two of them to handle playing NRL against bigger stronger opponents than NSW cup.

Admittedly it’s often a bigger step than they can handle , so fingers crossed

 

[maxta]

Need at least two of them to handle playing NRL against bigger stronger opponents than NSW cup.

Good point and here's my 2c worth....

The number 1 attribute by miles for a junior potential player to make it at NRL level is DEFENCE....of course the attacking stars are great, but many bomb out taking the next step, if they can't defend.
I have seen plenty of Walsh in lower grades, NSW cup and even his debut on Friday night and he has great technique and actually go's in hard looking for the contact....I have zero doubt about him making his own name at the elite level and his attack will be no issue, in fact will add an extra X factor spark, once he finds his feet.
The dummy half Muagututia is the player I have high hopes for....so very similar to Manase Fainu in many ways and can see him becoming the impact Manly has been crying out for in recent seasons and will 100% be a fan favourite, again CAN tackle, but his attack is SUper with speed and also a great support player.
The front rower Laiafi is a Powerhouse, but will "definitely" take time to adapt to the speed at NRL level.
He does offer great post contact and quick play balls and even has an offload, but again defence will take match fitness and I feel will see him more regularly by 2027 - 2028, adapting to the speed around the ruck in the modern game, but potentially can feature of the pine in 2026, though will likely be limited or if (that dirty word) "injuries" occur.
Anonio Large is a Massive talent and the only thing I am not sure, will be where he fits in as can play halves or centre, blistering speed and can smell where to be in attack.
His brother Ashton is a hugely rated dummy half ( 1 of the best Potentially) and what I do see...but this will be in time, is Muagutia becoming a speedy lock to open up the 9 for Ashton, but this will be a few years away, but you know what, it's good knowing we have these boys coming through, hungry and with ability to add some much needed youth to a team carrying to many slower and almost burnt out players.

 

[manly al]

Good point and here's my 2c worth....

The number 1 attribute by miles for a junior potential player to make it at NRL level is DEFENCE....of course the attacking stars are great, but many bomb out taking the next step, if they can't defend.
I have seen plenty of Walsh in lower grades, NSW cup and even his debut on Friday night and he has great technique and actually go's in hard looking for the contact....I have zero doubt about him making his own name at the elite level and his attack will be no issue, in fact will add an extra X factor spark, once he finds his feet.
The dummy half Muagututia is the player I have high hopes for....so very similar to Manase Fainu in many ways and can see him becoming the impact Manly has been crying out for in recent seasons and will 100% be a fan favourite, again CAN tackle, but his attack is SUper with speed and also a great support player.
The front rower Laiafi is a Powerhouse, but will "definitely" take time to adapt to the speed at NRL level.
He does offer great post contact and quick play balls and even has an offload, but again defence will take match fitness and I feel will see him more regularly by 2027 - 2028, adapting to the speed around the ruck in the modern game, but potentially can feature of the pine in 2026, though will likely be limited or if (that dirty word) "injuries" occur.
Anonio Large is a Massive talent and the only thing I am not sure, will be where he fits in as can play halves or centre, blistering speed and can smell where to be in attack.
His brother Ashton is a hugely rated dummy half ( 1 of the best Potentially) and what I do see...but this will be in time, is Muagutia becoming a speedy lock to open up the 9 for Ashton, but this will be a few years away, but you know what, it's good knowing we have these boys coming through, hungry and with ability to add some much needed youth to a team carrying to many slower and almost burnt out players.

Wonder how Mafoa and Pua : avase are rated these days as potential i st grade level props
Looks like Patolo has slipped down the ratings a bit
You and naturally Smokin Joe always have some good takes on the guys coming through
Willett has some good credentials , speed , good anticipation , height advantage , not sure how he generally measures up defensively but probably within reason

 

[manly al]

Sure that Ontino Large could transition into a quite competitive centre in the near future and for whatever time before coming into calculations as a 6 at Manly
Realize Garrick has some genuine toe but a Koula - Large centre combo would be right up there

 

[maxta]

Wonder how Mafoa and Pua : avase are rated these days as potential i st grade level props
Looks like Patolo has slipped down the ratings a bit
You and naturally Smokin Joe always have some good takes on the guys coming through
Willett has some good credentials , speed , good anticipation , height advantage , not sure how he generally measures up defensively but probably within reason

Pua and Mafoa both still young and developing.
Pua we got from up North and has been quite good and looks a little like Tino out on the field (obviously a way off at this time) and even when Seaeagles NSW cup team copped hidings, he was 1 to stand out with workrate and "reasonable" impact....definitely not far off, but still NSW / Qld cup level who could fill in if needed.
Mafoa is another Fijian who has talent and natural power beyong his size and has good pedigree as his old boy was a Fijian union International....1 to watch with great leg drive and quite mobile....I have Lafaia ahead of him as far as impact, but Mafoa has a big motor.
Patolo has been nothing less than a disappointment and I see him another Atasi James, where you had hope...but nothing really came of it.
Willett has played well and could easily step up (has that gangle Saab build so hitups can be dominated at NRL level, but has that leap and other attributes on his side) and in truth the ONLY reason he has not got a run, is the outside backs we are fairly well stocked and the player I felt sorry for was Talau who is now cut, as he was the next best back "in 2025" aside from Koula imo, but you can't keep them all and Manly are searching for more ins up front in the transfer market, which I feel is "Exactly" what we need.

 

[manlyfan76]

Good point and here's my 2c worth....

The number 1 attribute by miles for a junior potential player to make it at NRL level is DEFENCE....of course the attacking stars are great, but many bomb out taking the next step, if they can't defend.
I have seen plenty of Walsh in lower grades, NSW cup and even his debut on Friday night and he has great technique and actually go's in hard looking for the contact....I have zero doubt about him making his own name at the elite level and his attack will be no issue, in fact will add an extra X factor spark, once he finds his feet.
The dummy half Muagututia is the player I have high hopes for....so very similar to Manase Fainu in many ways and can see him becoming the impact Manly has been crying out for in recent seasons and will 100% be a fan favourite, again CAN tackle, but his attack is SUper with speed and also a great support player.
The front rower Laiafi is a Powerhouse, but will "definitely" take time to adapt to the speed at NRL level.
He does offer great post contact and quick play balls and even has an offload, but again defence will take match fitness and I feel will see him more regularly by 2027 - 2028, adapting to the speed around the ruck in the modern game, but potentially can feature of the pine in 2026, though will likely be limited or if (that dirty word) "injuries" occur.
Anonio Large is a Massive talent and the only thing I am not sure, will be where he fits in as can play halves or centre, blistering speed and can smell where to be in attack.
His brother Ashton is a hugely rated dummy half ( 1 of the best Potentially) and what I do see...but this will be in time, is Muagutia becoming a speedy lock to open up the 9 for Ashton, but this will be a few years away, but you know what, it's good knowing we have these boys coming through, hungry and with ability to add some much needed youth to a team carrying to many slower and almost burnt out players.

Muagututia is interesting to see how he develops and where he will fit in.
Hart I'd have in NSW cup for at least half the year.
Walsh's defence was good in the cameo, shame he didn't have an actual position to play during that game.

Hope the staff are brave in 2026.

 

[Phobia]

I also think another positive for next year is how well Lehi Hopoate is developing. He'll bulk up some more during the off-season, and this can only help him.

With Hoppa, it's the first time in a while that I still feel confident about our fullback position when Turbo is out. I think the sheer class of those two fullbacks, and the departure of DCE, means we can return to a more fullback oriented attacking structure next year, like in 2021.

Turbo looks to be regaining confidence as well. Unlike many here, I hope he's selected for Australia to boost his stocks.

 

[Blowfly]

Muagututia is interesting to see how he develops and where he will fit in.
Hart I'd have in NSW cup for at least half the year.
Walsh's defence was good in the cameo, shame he didn't have an actual position to play during that game.

Hope the staff are brave in 2026.

Hope the staff are different in 2026.

I’d have more confidence and hope for the young talent if we changed the coach and a few others in the staff.

 

[Disco]

Wonder how Mafoa and Pua : avase are rated these days as potential i st grade level props
Looks like Patolo has slipped down the ratings a bit
You and naturally Smokin Joe always have some good takes on the guys coming through
Willett has some good credentials , speed , good anticipation , height advantage , not sure how he generally measures up defensively but probably within reason

Personally not sure any of those three forwards become first graders of consequence.