2025 recruitment & retention

[frank stokes]

Manly Sea Eagles

Sea Eagles 2025 Player Movements

2025 Gains

Joey Walsh (2027)

2025 Losses

Bailey Hodgson (Leigh Leopards), Jamie Humphreys (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Karl Lawton(North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Schuster (released)

Re-Signed

Josh Aloiai (2027), Nathan Brown (2026), Gordon Chan Kum Tong (2025), Haumole Olakau'atu(2031), Jason Saab (2029), Ben Trbojevic (2027)

Off Contract 2024

Matthew Lodge, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Corey Waddell

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Tommy Talau
3. Tolutau Koula
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Taniela Paseka
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Toafofoa Sipley
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange
14. Jake Simpkin
15. Josh Aloiai
16. Nathan Brown
17. Ethan Bullemor

Rest of squad
18. Ben Condon
19. Clayton Faulalo
20. Aitasi James
21. Dean Matterson
22. Brad Parker
23. Jaxson Paulo
24. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
25. Aaron Schoupp
26. Jake Arthur
27. Joey Walsh (not sure if his in next year top 30)
28. No player signed.
29. No player signed.
30. No player signed.

Roster spots open: 3

2025 development list
1. Lehi Hopoate
2.Simione Laifai

PLAYERS OFF CONTRACT 2024

CENTRE
Euan Aitken, Paul Alamoti, Daejarn Asi, Zac Cini, Max Feagai, Morgan Harper, Delouise Hoeter, Michael Jennings, Josiah Karapani, Krystian Mapapalangi, Taane Milne, Tesi Niu, Marion Seve, Jeral Skelton, Blaize Talagi, Isaiah Tass, Valynce Te Whare, Izaac Thompson, Enari Tuala
19 players off contract

FULLBACK
Leon Te Hau
1 players off contract

FIVE-EIGHTH
Anthony Milford, Hayze Perham
2 players off contract

HALFBACK
Jake Clifford, Dean Hawkins, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Marschke, Kodi Nikorima, Niwhai Puru, Toby Sexton, Thomas Weaver
8 players off contract

HOOKER
Jayden Berrell, Zach Dockar-Clay, Jake Granville, Zac Woolford
4 players off contract

LOCK
Matthew Eisenhuth, Isaac Liu, Tyrone Peachey, Jazz Tevaga
4 players off contract

PROP
Mat Croker, Sione Fainu, Peter Hola, Valingi Kepu, Liam Knight, Matthew Lodge, Makahesi Makatoa, Jordan McLean, Shaquai Mitchell, Tepai Moeroa, Ofahiki Ogden, Tevita Pangai Junior, Chris Patolo, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Martin Taupau, Zane Tetevano, Alec Tuitavake
17 players off contract

SECOND-ROW
Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Billy Burns, Michael Chee-Kam, Tom Eisenhuth, Klese Haas, Brodie Jones, Ativalu Lisati, Ben Lovett, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Joe Stimson, Wil Sullivan, Jackson Topine, Toni Tupouniua, Corey Waddell, Jack Williams
15 players off contract

WINGER
Solomon Alaimalo, Kyle Feldt, Dean Ieremia, Edrick Lee, Corey Oates, Jordan Rapana, James Schiller, Bailey Simonsson, Siteni Taukamo, Young Tonumaipea, Setu Tu, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Semi Valemei
13 players off contract

I reckon Tepai Moeroa would.be worrh the risk...

Low dollar, high experience, comes from Storm system and only 28...

I see positives and, at his best, would add real value... could be a good pick up if Lodge moves on...

 

[Nordburg]

I reckon Tepai Moeroa would.be worrh the risk...

Low dollar, high experience, comes from Storm system and only 28...

I see positives and, at his best, would add real value... could be a good pick up if Lodge moves on...

Tepai also comes from the Eels and Union system,so…..

 

[frank stokes]

Tepai also comes from the Eels and Union system,so…..

So presumably he knows what does NOT work also... 😁

I reckon he would be close to minimum contract and he has a lot of experience for a 28 year old... did not set world on fire at Storm but they jave a bloody good pack...

 

[Smokin Joe]

So presumably he knows what does NOT work also... 😁

I reckon he would be close to minimum contract and he has a lot of experience for a 28 year old... did not set world on fire at Storm but they jave a bloody good pack...

I posted last off season he would be a good pick up.
Very underrated,defensively works hard and his tackles seem to always stick,rarely misses.
Not an alpha prop,but works hard and makes yards,it is a yes from me,he has always impressed me in the few chances he gets.
We have had success picking up guys like this in the past.

 

[Frogz]

Everyone we talk about is...could be cheap...has had injuries but worth the risk...if he could regain his form would be a great buy...... Very underrated.... Low dollar, high experience.... Can we just buy 1 x you f#cking beauty player. Havent had one for years

 

[double hoops]

If Penn is ever going to find some 3rd party deals. The time is now.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Everyone we talk about is...could be cheap...has had injuries but worth the risk...if he could regain his form would be a great buy...... Very underrated.... Low dollar, high experience.... Can we just buy 1 x you f#cking beauty player. Havent had one for years

You mean someone like Luke Brooks?
That type of player?

 

[Frogz]

You mean someone like Luke Brooks?
That type of player?

no never said that. Maybe a Jamie Lyons type...you know a real killer

 

[Smokin Joe]

no never said that. Maybe a Jamie Lyons type...you know a real killer

I would guess that with Tom,Garrick,Koula,Saab,Brooks,DCE,Paseka,Aloiai,Olakau'atu,Jake and having to then fit another 20 players plus 6 supplementary players there might not be a lot in the kitty.
I would suggest that there is around $6.5 mill(conservatively) in that top 10,just a rough guess,not easy to squeeze another Lyon type in there.

 

[Oligarch]

Will give Jazz the benefit of the doubt and the Manly recruiting team as I thought that Brown and Talau were crap signings, and both have been good signings.

Which is surprising given the fact the recruitment team do this for a living, and I’m a middle aged bloke posting from the couch.

 

[frank stokes]

Everyone we talk about is...could be cheap...has had injuries but worth the risk...if he could regain his form would be a great buy...... Very underrated.... Low dollar, high experience.... Can we just buy 1 x you f#cking beauty player. Havent had one for years

We have Tom, Chez, Jake and Guac on massive coin... Aloiai, Tent, Garrick and Tolu on really good coin...

We need to surround them with "low value, high experience" type players and rookies if we are gonna fill out the top 30 under the cap... wby else would we have signed Lawnton, Woods, Brown, Lodge, Tevaga etc etc etc..?

If Lodge goes then I doubt we are going to market for a Tino, Haas or even RCG to replace him... happy to be wrong of course...

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I think it’s smart not signing Losge until seasons end. He plays much better when earning a contract and a huge game from him today would really improve our chances.

 

[frank stokes]

Will give Jazz the benefit of the doubt and the Manly recruiting team as I thought that Brown and Talau were crap signings, and both have been good signings.

Which is surprising given the fact the recruitment team do this for a living, and I’m a middle aged bloke posting from the couch.

In your defence, you probs have more runs on the board than the Manly recruiting team in the last decade or two...

 

[frank stokes]

I think it’s smart not signing Losge...

Me too... personally, I wouldn't sign Lodge either 😊

I think he has been good on a cut-rate contract without being great...

I have not been overly-excited at any point, he will require a significant contract upgrade to keep him (based on reports) whilst being injury-prone and, full disclosure, I just dont like the guy...

 

[ManlyTragic]

If Penn is ever going to find some 3rd party deals. The time is now.

If Penn is ever going to sell
The time is now

Just sayin’

 

[KNUCKLES]

We have Tom, Chez, Jake and Guac on massive coin... Aloiai, Tent, Garrick and Tolu on really good coin...

We need to surround them with "low value, high experience" type players and rookies if we are gonna fill out the top 30 under the cap... wby else would we have signed Lawnton, Woods, Brown, Lodge, Tevaga etc etc etc..?

If Lodge goes then I doubt we are going to market for a Tino, Haas or even RCG to replace him... happy to be wrong of course...

Where does the improvement come from moving forward next year? DCE Is getting older along with Jake, turbo is breaking down. I feel like with our current crop we are at our peak. No moneyball signings are gonna change this. It has been great seeing us back in the finals this year, but doesn't mean much if we can't build on it moving forward. The teams that have gotten stronger each year are the teams switching up their rosters. Even penrith have had quite a high turnover of 'stars'

 

[frank stokes]

Where does the improvement come from moving forward next year? DCE Is getting older along with Jake, turbo is breaking down. I feel like with our current crop we are at our peak. No moneyball signings are gonna change this. It has been great seeing us back in the finals this year, but doesn't mean much if we can't build on it moving forward. The teams that have gotten stronger each year are the teams switching up their rosters. Even penrith have had quite a high turnover of 'stars'

None of it matters if we win our next 3 games mate...

IMO you need consistency in your squad and we have that now... this spine can take us forward over the next few seasons and we have some really promising young talent on the books...

Half this site will pile on to Froggy not being the solution but his tackling is elite and his passing has been a lot better this season... a full season with a fit Turbo and we are potentiallu coming into the finals needing to win 2 games over 3 weeks to make the GF...

the riff HAVE had turnover but what are the big name signings? They have promoted from within around an elite spine (notably with a 9 that is not an amazing attacking player but tackles his butt off and delivers crisp passes)... the drizzle have also maintained an elite spine over many seasons with the Tigpies prop (for next season) being their only "big" signing - they have also been held back by injuries though...

I think we are going along alright and positioned pretty well for growth right now... Jake does not have a laundry list of injuries and Chez will play another 2 seasons at the very least (sorry @jbb/james )...

imo we just need another hard-head prop that can play high-intensity football and NOT make errors under pressure... and progression by Burbo would REALLY help too...

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Burbo looked good in the trials and early in the season but didn’t hit the heights I expected. He needs to take it to another level. No time like the present.

 

[Frogz]

I would guess that with Tom,Garrick,Koula,Saab,Brooks,DCE,Paseka,Aloiai,Olakau'atu,Jake and having to then fit another 20 players plus 6 supplementary players there might not be a lot in the kitty.
I would suggest that there is around $6.5 mill(conservatively) in that top 10,just a rough guess,not easy to squeeze another Lyon type in there.

I know and thats the part that p1sses me off. Because you look at all the successful teams and they have all that, but still seem to be able to buy and buy well. We blame the cap and buy Aaron Woods and Dean Matterson and resigned Schuster. The rich get richer. And to be honest Saab, Koula, Garrick and Aloiai aren't in the top tier of superstars.

 

[mave]

Where does the improvement come from moving forward next year? DCE Is getting older along with Jake, turbo is breaking down. I feel like with our current crop we are at our peak. No moneyball signings are gonna change this. It has been great seeing us back in the finals this year, but doesn't mean much if we can't build on it moving forward. The teams that have gotten stronger each year are the teams switching up their rosters. Even penrith have had quite a high turnover of 'stars'

I doubt Jake or DCE play Origin next year.

This improves us straight away.