Premiership Odds: (via betting.club): $9.00
Big Outs: Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku, Matt Ballin
Big Ins: Martin Taupau, Dylan Walker, Lewis Brown, Nate Myles
Manly, by their own lofty standards, had a horrible 2015. Their superstar backs did their very best but they were stuck behind a well beaten forward pack.
Geoff Toovey ultimately paid the price by losing his job, while there has been a huge turnover in players, especially in the forwards.
The top 17 now looks completely different and much stronger, even though Kiwi international Kieran Foran made his way to the Eels.
Manly have taken big steps to strengthen their forward pack and have a much stronger side heading into 2016.
Key Player: Daly Cherry-Evans
The young star half spent most of the early 2015 season ring-leading a media circus which effected both his form and the form of his side.
Almost the moment he re-signed to a long-term deal to remain at the club, his form started to match that of which we have come to expect from DCE.
With Foran gone, Cherry-Evans will have to step up his game until Dylan Walker settles in to a role he hasn’t played consistently in years.
Cherry is one of the elite halfbacks of the game, and given the faith, and money, the Sea Eagles have invested in him, he needs to continue to play like one, from day one.
Young Gun: Tom Trbojevic
Both of the Trbojevic brothers have huge futures ahead, but it is 19 year-old outside back Tom that has people talking.
Eight tries in just nine games put him firmly on the map of Manly fans who hadn’t yet seen him tear the Holden Cup apart.
He will replace New Zealand international Peta Hiku on the wing and will have a brilliant opportunity from the start given he will play outside veteran Steve Matai.
Trbojevic will score plenty of tries and should strengthen the Sea Eagles backline in the air both in attack and defence. An exciting youngster to say the very least.
Best Signing: Martin Taupau
The Sea Eagles have made a mountain of signings but it is young Kiwi firebrand Martin Taupau that is their best.
He will add power, explosiveness and aggression to a pack that lacked all that and more in 2015.
Taupau will have to play big minutes in 2016, as most lock forwards will be required, but he has shown he is no flash in the pain whilst at the Tigers.
The recruitment spree has completely overhauled the Manly forward pack but it is the tackle breaking, metre making 25 year-old who will make the biggest difference.
Strength: Origin/International experience all across the park
Despite the loss of Foran, Hiku and possible Buhrer, the Sea Eagles still have representative experience all over the park.
Brett Stewart is still a dangerous fullback, while both young wingers look like genuine stars of the future.
The Manly centres have been amongst the best for the past five years, while Cherry-Evans and Walker both have plenty of big game experience, including a premiership each.
Myles, Taupau, Brown and Mateo all have international experience, and Jamie Buhrer is an Origin rep.
A lack of experience will be no excuse if the Sea Eagles were to falter, nor will be a lack of talent.
Weakness: Converting a centre to five-eighth
As good a player as Dylan Walker is, he has been a star in the centre position during his time in first grade, bar a few games here and there, but his future lies at five-eight.
He does have experience in the playmaking role in the junior ranks but it will take time to settle into his new position.
Jamie Lyon proved it’s possible when he lead the Sea Eagles to a premiership but Walker has the added disadvantage of having to get to know new team mates.
With a new coach, new game-plan and a new line up, it may be a slow start for Walker at five-eighth, but it could be a positive move in the long-run.
Strongest 17:
1. Brett Stewart
2. Jorge Taufua
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Steve Matai
5. Tom Trbojevic
6. Dylan Walker
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Nate Myles
9. Matt Parcell
10. Jake Trbojevic
11. Lewis Brown
12. Feleti Mateo
13. Martin Taupau
14. Tom Symonds
15. Brenton Lawrence
16. Darcy Lussick
17. Api Koroisau
Although Jamie Lyon has a premiership in the number six, Dylan Walker is favoured to play in the number six role. Jamie Buhrer is consistently linked with a move away from the club, but if he should stay, he would be there in the 17 somewhere. Parcell, based on his amazing run in QLD cup pips Koroisau to the run on spot in the number nine, although that could change.
Prediction: 3rd
Third feels like a bit of a stretch, but looking at this side on paper, I can’t see how they don’t improve dramatically from their 2015 efforts.
Their backline screams try-scoring potential, while their new look forward pack is chock full of experience, size and tackle-busting ability.
They have not only seen to their biggest weakness but they’ve turned it into yet another strength.
Foran is a huge loss and it will take time for Walker to settle in to his new role, but from one to 13 there is no weakness in this side.
If your side is playing Manly, you’d better hope it’s in the early rounds before they really get going, as this is one dangerous side.
On paper they look capable of a top four run, and in Trent Barrett they have a coach who is desperate to repay the faith shown in him by the Sea Eagles board.
All the ingredients are there, if Walker settles in and combinations click early, there is no reason they won’t be in the top four come September.
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