The Manly Sea Eagles have undergone a period of change off the field, but with Kieran Foran now having almost a full season in charge, the pressure will be on in 2027 to improve the roster.
Manly's roster came into 2026 likely not expecting great things, but the start to their season saw three consecutive losses at home, enough for the club's board to move on Anthony Seibold.
Kieran Foran's instant turnaround on the Northern Beaches similarly wasn't expected, with the club then dropping off towards the end of the season and missing the finals.
All told, they probably finished about where might have been expected in the pre-season, although to not mention Luke Brooks' injury among others wouldn't be fully fair.
Jamal Fogarty's first season at Manly replacing Daly Cherry-Evans certainly didn't go to script, but it's Brooks who is off-contract at the end of 2027 as Manly look to build for the future.
Here is the state of play for Manly as November 1 looms large.
Current 2028 squad
Ethan Bullemor, Kayliss Fatialofa, Clayton Faulalo, Josh Feledy, Jamal Fogarty, Kobe Hetherington, Tolutau Koula, Simione Laiafi, Toni Mataele, Davvy Moale, Haumole Olakau'atu, Taniela Paseka, Jason Saab, Jake Simpkin, Starford To'a, Joey Walsh
Off-contract at the end of 2027
Luke Brooks, Hugo Hart, Lehi Hopoate, Onitoni Large, Caleb Navale, Jackson Shereb, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Corey Waddell, Navren Willett
Current 2028 best 19
1. Clayton Faulalo
2. Jason Saab
3. Starford To'a
4. Tolutau Koula
5. Josh Feledy
6. Joey Walsh
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Ethan Bullemor
9. Jake Simpkin
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Kayliss Fatialofa
12. Haumole Olakau'atu
13. Kobe Hetherington
Interchange
14. Simione Laiafi
15. Toni Mataele
16. Davvy Moale
17. No player signed.
18. No player signed.
19. No player signed.
Manly have 16 players locked in for 2028 at this stage, although there is no doubt some of the off-contract list, led by Lehi Hopoate, will be high priority.
Other young talent needs to be re-signed too, which will eat further into the salary cap available, although that isn't the most pressing concern for Foran and his recruitment staff.
Decisions on the future of the Trbojevic brothers will also be critical to how Manly map their squad out moving forward.
Option 5: Ali Leiataua (New Zealand Warriors)
The Warriors are stacked in the outside backs moving forward. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's surprise re-signing is joined by the arrival of Will Warbrick for next year, while Alofiana Khan-Pereira is also at the club, and Leka Halasima appears as if he may be set on his future being in the centres.
That ultimately means the competition for spots is hot, and while Leiataua has always been tipped for big things, he has struggled to realise that enormous potential at NRL level to this point in his career.
The centre is an excellent ball runner, is rapidly improving on the defensive end of the park, and Manly, for reasons already outlined, should be on the lookout for a good outside back who won't cost an arm and a leg.
Leiataua ticks all of those boxes.
