Five Manly Sea Eagles players who must improve in 2026

Luke Brooks burst onto the NRL scene at the Wests Tigers and was once considered one of the club's “big three” alongside James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses. He was touted as the next Andrew Johns when he made his debut and was the only one of the trio to stay loyal to the Tigers. Since joining Manly, Brooks has shown flashes of his immense ability but remains inconsistent.

Why his role is important
Brooks is an experienced playmaker with speed, vision and the ability to create space for those around him. He links naturally with edge forwards and outside backs, and when he runs the football, he gives Manly a point of difference in attack. His combination with Fogarty will shape the team's rhythm and attacking balance.

What needs to improve
Brooks needs to find consistency and confidence. Too often, he drifts in and out of games. He has all the skills but must take greater control of Manly's attack. Fogarty will provide structure, but Brooks needs to trust his instincts, use his running game and execute his attacking kicks. Defence on the edge must also improve. At times, Brooks has been guilty of poor reads and wrong options in critical moments.

In this side, stacked with attacking threats, Brooks has the chance to thrive. He needs to focus on creating second-phase play and providing clean, early ball to strike weapons like Tolu Koula, Lehi Hopoate and Reuben Garrick, while combining with edge powerhouses such as Haumole Olakau'atu.

His pace and ability to wrap around and play both sides of the ruck can add unpredictability to Manly's attack. If Brooks performs to his potential, the Sea Eagles can rediscover the attacking spark they've lacked in recent years and become genuine finals contenders once again.