Pre-Game Manly V Tigers [Round 17, 2025]

[SeaEagleRock8]

Paseka and Aloia are the only real losses and two injuries is hardly being decimated. We are no better or worse off in that regard than most clubs at various stages of the year.

Would explain why we are around mid-table

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Watch the half dozen young warrior backrowers run around - that’s the way the game is going and has been for 5 years. Missing that simple fact has ended any chance of us being contenders over the next few years

Those players weren't lured overseas they are homegrown. We haven't got the same sort of nursery it seems And We have actually signed some young forwards in recent years but clearly they have not turned to gold. Kelma, Condon, Aitasi James, Patolo, Pua'Avase...
I agree we need some top younger forwards as a priority. Surely the club knows this too (or maybe not)

 

[susan]

Would explain why we are around mid-table

Get back to me after the stretch we have coming post tigers. Haumole is our only CLASS forward. The rest you could interchange each week and make no difference with maybe Bull being an exception.

DCE is a one trick pony on the right with Haumole. Can’t wait to see Waddell steaming through those gaps.

Put a fork in us. Minus Haumole this is the worst forward pack Manly have fielded in 20 years.

 

[susan]

Those players weren't lured overseas they are homegrown. We haven't got the same sort of nursery it seems And We have actually signed some young forwards in recent years but clearly they have not turned to gold. Kelma, Condon, Aitasi James, Patolo, Pua'Avase...
I agree we need some top younger forwards as a priority. Surely the club knows this too (or maybe not)

Not saying we should have them specifically in our ranks. Simply pointing out this is the style of player needed in the modern game, not slow immobile geriatrics. It is an absolute gross failure to not recognise the trend like the leading clubs have.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Can't really argue with any of that (sadly)

 

[susan]

Can't really argue with any of that (sadly)

SE8 I’m feeling it with you. Love this club and I can handle ups and downs in recruitment now and then. Some players work , some don’t.
But to miss an incredibly obvious strategic change in the way the game is played, at a time when inflationary expansion clubs being admitted was equally as obvious , is disqualifying for coaches and administrators in my book.
Vlandys told everyone listening with the six again rule where the game was going to be in the future - he literally screamed it at us. SPEED.
The price increases these two new clubs alone bring could kill our prospects for a decade even assuming the club finally realises what a modern pack looks like, which evidence suggests they don’t.

So frustrating

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

The price increases these two new clubs alone bring could kill our prospects for a decade even assuming the club finally realises what a modern pack looks like, which evidence suggests they don’t.

Our next recruitments will certainly be critical. One way or another we'll be getting some new blood for next year so here's hoping we're due for some better quality coming in.

 

[Budgie]

Tom Trbojevic trains at right centre in a new-look edge for Manly​

ByChristian Nicolussi​

June 23, 2025 — 1.39pm
Save
Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size

Tom Trbojevic’s move to the centres looks official with the Sea Eagles’ star training in the outside backs on Monday.
Lehi Hopoate will wear the No. 1 jersey, with Trbojevic and Reuben Garrick the new-look right edge heading into Friday’s crunch game against the Wests Tigers.
As revealed by this masthead last week, coach Anthony Seibold wanted to shift ‘Turbo’ in a bid to spark some form and help him regain confidence after an injury-plagued season.
Trbojevic has started at centre just five times in 160 NRL games – round 18 last year, and rounds 11, 14, 15, and 16 in 2016. But he has also proven a revelation in the position when playing there for NSW and Australia.
Should Trbojevic remain in the centres – and Hopoate shines in the custodian role – it will no doubt raise questions about Trbojevic’s value when he negotiates a new deal at his junior club beyond 2027.
The Trbojevic move may have an impact on Garrick’s future, who has made it known he prefers centre to wing, and more than held his own at centre during the past 18 months.

Tom Trbojevic sat out Thursday night’s game against Newcastle.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS​

It’s not only a big week for Trbojevic, but also Seibold whose immediate future is in the spotlight after successive losses to the lowly Knights and Titans.
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov was hardly glowing in his appraisal of Seibold when he said: “At the moment, Seibs is safe at this point.”​

Should Manly lose to the Tigers, who were the better team for much of the night despite losing to Canberra last Friday, expect the pressure to be turned up a notch on the coach who is signed until the end of 2027.
Assistant Mick Ennis and former Manly player Matt Ballin, who is currently working with the Broncos, have been touted as potential replacements.
In a show of unity, most of the NRL players turned up to watch the club’s NSW Cup side play on Saturday night, including injured backrower Haumole Olakau’atu. Olakau’atu said of Seibold: “Seibs is a good fella, the boys have his back, and he’s got our back as well. Whatever is [being said] out there and on the socials, it’s just that. Inside the circle we’re all sweet.”
Some other key takeouts from training was Tola Koula and Tommy Talau teaming up on the left edge, winger Jason Saab watching training with his right knee in a compression sleeve, Jazz Tevaga running with the starting team at hooker, and Corey Waddell at right second-row.
Trbojevic will front the media on Monday afternoon as part of a club partnership announcement.
​

 

[Nambawan]

Get back to me after the stretch we have coming post tigers. Haumole is our only CLASS forward. The rest you could interchange each week and make no difference with maybe Bull being an exception.

DCE is a one trick pony on the right with Haumole. Can’t wait to see Waddell steaming through those gaps.

Put a fork in us. Minus Haumole this is the worst forward pack Manly have fielded in 20 years.

Zorba has opined the worst forward pack in over 50 years! I agree (and have been observing Manly since 1951)!

 

[Nambawan]

With respect to the upcoming Tigers match-up - reckon Manly could well have the backline to compete well. But on the other hand it probably will be in the forwards where we will struggle, as I think the Tigers would field a more athletic and aggressive pack than ours. Will be very interesting to see what the make-up of the Manly side will be.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Zorba has opined the worst forward pack in over 50 years! I agree (and have been observing Manly since 1951)!

Yet managed to thrash 3 of the leading teams.
So either our forward stocks aren't quite as bad as we think... or they are, in which case the coaching is not quite as bad as we think (?)
Next couple of games will be very interesting. Manly favourites in betting this week, although maybe that will change when teams announced? Not many fans here of Waddell to second row

 

[SeaEagleSI1]

Hope the 17 named play well
Let’s go Manly 🦅

1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Tolutau Koula
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Tommy Taula
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Corey Waddell
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jazz Tevaga

14. Jake Simpkin
15. Toff Sipley (Matt Lodge)
16. Nathan Brown (Caleb Navale)
17. Ethan Bullomer

 

[WiseyEagle]

So, is this where the avalanche of losses begins? Or did it start 2 weeks ago

 

[Cliffy's Jockstrap]

Dammit seems like Saab is physically dodgy again. If he was fit I might have hoped Tom's ballplaying might put him into some space.

I absolutely agree about the quality of the forward pack. We will have to see how this one goes, feel like I should be more confident but I'm really not!

 

[Frogz]

I think Tommy T should be just put on the wing at present, find his feet and some running form.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

With the forward pack we now have , I’m only expecting a couple of wins ( when we least expect it ) in the run home.

We are seriously nothing more than spoon contenders at present.

Zero forward depth , and all our guns on the sideline.

Brace ourselves

 

[HoldenV8]

My YART for what its worth.

Lehi Hopoate, Reuben Garrick, Tolu Koula, Tom Trbojevic, Jason Saab, Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans (c), Ethan Bullemor, Lachlan Croker, Toff Sipley, Corey Waddell, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic.

Bench (from): Tommy Talau, Jake Simpkin, Jazz Tevaga, Nathan Brown, Matt Lodge, Caleb Navale, Clayton Faulalo.

I honestly think that Froggy, Saab and Waddell were given a run in NSW Cup on Saturday just to get their confidence up (Saab) and to give them some match fitness (Frog and Duck). So I think all 3 will be in this weeks team. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of forward options missing Paseka, Aloiai and Haumole right now.

 

[Hertera]

With the forward pack we now have , I’m only expecting a couple of wins ( when we least expect it ) in the run home.

We are seriously nothing more than spoon contenders at present.

Zero forward depth , and all our guns on the sideline.

Brace ourselves

According to Mestrov we are a top 4 team in the smh

 

[bob dylan]

I reckon the losing coach will be off to Centrelink Monday morning.

 

[Waz13]

Hope the 17 named play well
Let’s go Manly 🦅

1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Tolutau Koula
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Tommy Taula
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Corey Waddell
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jazz Tevaga

14. Jake Simpkin
15. Toff Sipley (Matt Lodge)
16. Nathan Brown (Caleb Navale)
17. Ethan Bullomer

That team should towel the Tigers at Brookie. Forwards need to stand up!