Some analysis from Fox Sports on our roster, is missing Toff Sipley from the prop rotation;
SEA EAGLES
Halves: Daly Cherry-Evans, Luke Brooks, Jake Arthur, Jamie Humphreys (also hooker)
Hooker: Lachlan Croker, Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Fullback: Tom Trbojevic
Wing: Reuben Garrick (also fullback), Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Clayton Faulalo, Jaxson Paulo, Ray Vaega
Centre: Brad Parker, Tolutau Koula (also fullback), Tommy Talau
Prop: Taniela Paseka, Matt Lodge, Ben Condon (also second row)
Second row: Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Schuster (also halves), Ben Trbojevic, Corey Waddell (also prop), Ethan Bullemor, Karl Lawton (also hooker)
Lock: Jake Trbojevic (also prop), Josh Aloiai (also prop), Zac Fulton
Spots left in Top 30: 1
Supplementary players: Aitasi James (prop), Bailey Hodgson (fullback), Dean Matterson (lock/second row/halves), Lehi Hopoate (fullback)
Reserves report: Manly’s New South Wales Cup feeder side, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, made the finals last season for the first time since joining the competition in 2017. But the team has lost several key players ahead of 2024 including fullback Jake Toby, who led the team in try assists and linebreak assists last season. They’ve recruited a couple of forwards for the part-time squad though including former Bear Ben Seufale, while Brad Abbey has re-signed for 2024
Verdict: Manageable. Josh Schuster’s move back to the second row has Manly sitting pretty in edge forwards. But it’s not so stacked for the middles. Either Josh Aloiai or Jake Trbojevic will start at prop in Round 1 along with Taniela Paseka but beyond them there’s only a couple of versatile forwards in Corey Waddell and Ben Condon that can provide back-up in the early rounds. Matt Lodge will miss the opening month of the season due to the knee injury he suffered in August but even when he returns the team could still do with another addition to the engine room. Veteran prop Aaron Woods is still at the club but can’t play until Round 11 given he’s on a train-and-trial contract. Nathan Brown is also on a train-and-trial contract and so are props Austin Dias and Jacob Sykes, who played for Blacktown last season. Jake Arthur is on deck for when Daly Cherry-Evans heads into Origin camp, Gordon Chan Kum Tong can cover for Lachlan Croker and Tommy Talau’s arrival has created serious competition in the outside backs. While Tom Trbojevic is the only specialist fullback in the Top 30, Reuben Garrick and Tolu Koula have proven they are more than capable of filling in if needed. But moving either of them means more disruption to the backline
