After a dour 2018 season on and off the field, the Manly Sea Eagles surprised many pundits with a return to finals footy in 2019.
And they are now looking to improve heading into the 2020 season.
Following the return signing of head coach Des Hasler, there wasn’t much else to cheer about early on for the Brookvale faithful.
With star fullback Tom Trbojevic injuring himself in a pre-season match and five-eighth Dylan Walker awaiting trial for assault allegations, it wasn’t the best start to the 2019 season.
Trbojevic only managed to play in 12 games for Manly last season with an ongoing hamstring injury before a pectoral injury in round 24 ended his season.
Despite Trbojevic only playing 12 matches, his impact was profound as Manly won 10 of them.
Walker was eventually cleared of any charges and made his return in round 10, and then went op to play in the remaining 17 games of the season.
From this, the Sea Eagles finished the year in sixth position and lost to South Sydney 34-26 in the second week of finals.
There are many promising signs for Manly heading into the season as this will be Hasler’s second consecutive season at the helm, and as the record shows it’s where he looks to make his mark.
The loss of Hookers Api Koroisau to Penrith and Manase Fainu to off-field matters, the recent acquisition of Newcastle’s Danny Levi is a favourable one.
The 24-year-old has played 83 first grade matches for the Knights with a further four games for New Zealand.
With Levi being placed behind an already damaging Manly forward pack while also paired alongside Captain Daly Cherry-Evans, he’s one to watch this season.
Others such as Manly’s 2019 top-point scorer Reuben Garrick and their big-minute, forwards in Jake Trbojevic, Martin Tapau and Addin Fonua-Blake are all looking to improve on what was an already enormous 2019 season.
Finally, matched with Dally M contender and arguably Manly’s most influential player in Tom Trbojevic, Manly look to be a real challenger this season.
With this roster at full health, the Manly Sea Eagles are a team that have high expectations for this upcoming season, which is why I have them finishing amongst the top four and evidently competing for the premiership.
No we’re not a premiership threat.
We are relying on too many “no names” to play exceptional again.
Sure we should make the 8 but not pushing for a premiership.
Players like suli, Parker, Garrick, Levi, and our bench forwards all need to keep improving for us to be a contender yet.
Manly have an awesome core group of players and the others need to keep developing
Well said bob. Manly had a cracking year last year and injuries at the worst time killed them. Be interested to see how the young fellas back up this year b4 declaring them a premiership contender but overall they are in a pretty good spot
That’s wishful thinking
The favourites are South Sydney Sombreros with their multi million backing of James Packer, Russel Crowe, the greatest coach in history and their new recruit the highest point scorer in the NRL
If they don’t win the premiership this year it will be a disaster for all the money they have spent
Not to mention back to back to back triple choke
Calm down Woody. You’ve made your point over and over on all the other stories. Give it a rest champ
Well said Redv
My dear Moley, Sydney will not win the Premiership this year because
1. Bennett might be the greatest coach in history but that is what he is History.
2. The greatest current coach will be guiding the team of the Decade to the big dance
3. The man who holds the highest points record and the most games record will once more ensure that he lifts the shield in his final game,
4. The purple pride will run rings round the sombreros new recruit and show why he isn’t worth a dollar let alone a mil.
5. The end of an era will end with the greatest prize of all and send our departing stars off with the greatest memories of all.
Manly are certainly capable of beating the other best teams , with their top line up on the field.
How about Tom Trbojevic & his constant niggling injuries though. They need him there , to topple the tall poppies. He often seems to get a fairly serious injury sometime during the season.
The loss of Fainu is also a big deal, as the story stated. Levi can be good , but is also good at being inconsistent, Who’s next in line for hooker, if Levi gets injured? I know there’s Cust, but he’s still listed as a half rather than a hooker.
Manly contenders, I don’t think so. They will beat most of the top teams but depth is a huge problem and depth is how you win the comp. They have some gun players but also some nobodies that filled a hole last season. Marty needs another big season and Jake needs a better season
I can say it with certainty that Tom Trbojevic will injure himself again during the finals. He will play Origin for usre because That’s how he is.
I see two issues that will prevent Manly making it to the GF. They lack depth and a quality hooker. Let’s face it. Levi is pretty ordinary.
In saying that I would love to see a Parra v Manly GF.
No Mitchell or Cronk will se the Roosters struggle and South’s coach is past it.
Storm will be up there due to the leg up they get from the refs and the NRL but WONT make the GF.
“Why Manly are a premiership contender in 2020”.
I know this one, it’s because they’re 1 of 16 teams in the comp, therefore it’s a (statistical) possibility, sort of like having to own a Lotto ticket in order to win first division.
I’ll add, well done Eddie. ZT like their articles to be brief, so picking the “Why Manly are a premiership contender in 2020” fits their format perfectly, and you did well to expand that out into an article.
P.S. Yes, that’s a little dig. No, I’m not claiming Parra as premiership favourites / getting ahead of myself, and hopefully it will be viewed as a little (non Rooster / Bunny – for a change) light hearted (also for a change) traditional rivalry club banter.
Des would not be happy with this.
We are far from premiership contender 😉
“leg up they get from the refs”
You have got to be joking. Take a close look at the finals match Melbourne against Canberra. Even the head of referees admitted to a touch line error and three critical mistakes all against the Storm and I can tell you there were more than that. It takes a lot for the NRL to stand down a ref and a touchie and that tells you a lot.
leg up they get from the refs is complete and utter bunkam
Well 2019 proved every rugby league “expert” WRONG! Des proved that you don’t always need depth, a star studded line up, garden furniture, fancy gyms and stadiums! You need desire, leadership, sacrifice and of course the refs. Had any other club achieved what Manly did in 2019 they would be prem favs! Newcastle string 3 wins in a row and there already screaming premieres !
We will play finals in 2020, and should we stay fit you all will eat rabbit pie
Honestly I’m sad some people call themselves fans. I can’t wait for latrell to kill it and leave you with your stupid comments where the sun don’t shine. Now thinking they’ll get three-peat what a lost case. Deadset three peat uppercuts for that Neville. I’d love to see you at a game would you even celebrate if we scored a try against the roosters? Deadset lost case.
Outsider, “Had any other club achieved what Manly did in 2019 they would be prem favs!”, yet Parra went from 16th (yes, SPOON) to 5th (compared to 15th to 6th), and certainly shouldn’t be “favourites”, but up there/in contention (hopefully top 4). I know it’s not that simple etc etc, but at the same time, and before you use the “Dessie” card, Trent (of all “coaches”) had Manly at the same level (as 2019) in 2017, and, if anything, the side looks weaker in 2020 than either of those years.
It’s a new year., we shall see.
Poor woody.
obviously the meds aren’t working.
Ask your parents if they can drive you to your doctors to up your meds.
I am sure they will be happy to see there little woody leave the house for a bit.
Remember we are here for you champ.
Hey where is that nit’t,witt angryeagle and his muppet sidekick alter ego navisanit’t,wittdoormat that usually stick their fat heads into manly articles? Come out come out where ever you are!
BrennanWoodClucker..
I think you mean ‘Put a sock in it’, bright spark.
Why do you persist with the ‘I’m a South’s supporter’? You’ve got no one fooled Henny Penny.
I think you are fooling yourself though.
Flanagan is not Cronk. That’s a huge change & Flanagan is a first grade rookie. He’s even more of a first grade finals rookie. Even with Keary, the very good import. It puts a huge burden on Keary. If Keary gets another head knock? Lights out for the Chickens.
As much as you want to talk Mitchell down. His loss is massive!!! He added the X factor to the backline . So many times his bit of brilliance got the Nuggets over the try line. Smith is a rookie & he’s not even there for much of the season. He’s also not Mitchell! That’s why it’s still likely to be centre poaching time for the Nuggets, for much of the season.
Then there’s the long tooth theory. Head hitter JWH & Cordner aren’t getting any younger. As isn’t one Queenslander, back up hooker Friend .
Add to that , the loss of will to Win the whole thing. Plus, the want to knock off the premiers , by other clubs.
Your Chicken Plucker club hasn’t got the same aura as last year. Hooray!
Of course, anything is possible? Still looking far from three-peats right now.
I’d have given Manly a real shot of knocking off your Nuggets last season, if not for quite a few injuries.
EOD
For all those reasons Roosters are not expected to win… however you guys are!
The most likely three peat is Souths Sombreros 3 chokes in a row
with the biggest budget of all teams with packer and Crowe’s support that will be a huge embarrassment.
I guess you guys are used to it.
Well, I’m not a South’s supporter? So that’s fine.
Silly to bring up anything to do with either club.
Eelsalmighty, Parra are a joke mate, don’t compare that useless side to Manly, Parra have disappointed so many fans me included, don’t hold your breath
Hey rabbid17 that shadows blocked out your sun, Vitamin D princess you need vitamin D
Easy white chocolate, you have enough sun for the both of us. Just don’t like fake fans.
EelsAlmighty….said it before and I’ll say it again, I reckon Parra will be this year’s premiers. They have bought very astutely and will be F hard to beat at BankWest.
As much as I hate to say it, I think my beloved Chooks will fall off the pace this year, along with Melbourne, and the vermin will choke again.
Having said this, I reckon we WILL see Manly, Canberra and Newcastle all become big threats and maybe even the tiges.
Top 8 finish….
1/ Parra
2/ Canberra
3/ Melbourne
4/ Newcastle
5/ Roosters
6/ Manly
7/ Brisbane – (the assholes)
8/ Tigers
Hey Outsider, have you seen mychookmycar💩 has been using a heap of fake logins including old manly fan tags like angryeagle and Batman?.
EastOfDivide February 6, 2020 at 8:04 am
Well, I’m not a South’s supporter? So that’s fine.
who do you support EOD?
who do you support EOD?
Typical roosters fan ladder 🙄
The Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles CHEATED for 5 years and won nothing.
Their best player is an eye gouger that has hissy fits at training, their best young recruitment is on trial for stabbing someone in the back with a knife.
😄😄🤣🦃🦃🦃
The turbos are wasted with this mob.
When you have no argument or anything worthwhile to say? Just throw out some random insult. Such as when you had nothing to say about the facts , regarding your favourite Chickens. 🐔🐣🐥🐓
TheMole52 February 5, 2020 at 5:44 pm
“If they don’t win the premiership this year it will be a disaster for all the money they have spent
Not to mention back to back to back triple choke”
The real disaster is unquestionably the a clu who despite scamming 2 premierships are still unable to climb in memberships and fan base, lagging around the bottom of the list.
Memberships and fan support are the real measure of a team’s credibility in the NRL community and the roosters have failed not to mention the 4th name change in another desperate attempt to attract following which has also backfired.
Add to that the current trend in struggling to attract marquee signings who are going elsewhere for less money to avoid the obvious toxic culture that been exposed there.
Numbers dont lie,
Panther3 = mychookmycar 💩
screaming, I believe he masquerading as Papi over on the other side 😂😂😂😂
Oh right! Panthers3doormat=mychookdoormat=angrydoormat=navdogdoormat. Thats a lot of doormat in one ni.t,witt
Panthers3February 6, 2020 at 9:58 am
The Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles CHEATED for 5 years and won nothing.
Their best player is an eye gouger that
Hey mychook. As far as i was aware manly hadn’t signed George Burgess. Don’t tell me you are a nostradumass as well now?
Headline should read Why no one can stand Manly and it’s supporters